With flu season approaching, some people are wary of getting a flu shot for fear it will cause them to contract the virus.

However, Dr. Syed Reza of Primary Medical Care in Norwalk says there is no reason to worry.

"It basically tricks your immune system to mimic some symptoms or some disease that the immune system would normally be exposed to, so that your immune system creates antibodies against the flu," Dr. Reza says. "Because of that, you may get some mild, early flu-like symptoms, but they won't last."

In cases where a patient still gets the flu despite having the shot, Dr. Reza says it's usually because the individual was exposed to the virus before the vaccine gave his or her body a chance to build up immunity against it. A patient can also come down with a flu strain that the vaccine did not specifically target.

Dr. Reza says it takes nearly two weeks for the shot to become effective, so it's important to get one before the peak flu season, which typically begins in January. He also says that people should inform their physicians of allergies to eggs or certain chemicals like Thimerosal to ensure they take alternative shots that are free of those agents.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends the shot for anyone over the age of 6 months, including pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.