MILWAUKEE — With all counties of Wisconsin dealing with high levels of influenza-like illness activity and with only 30% of Wisconsinites vaccinated so far, doctors are encouraging everyone to get vaccinated against influenza sooner rather than later.

“We’re at the beginning of our season and we’ve actually had a doubling of our cases in the hospital in the last couple of weeks,” Dr. David Ottenbaker, vice president of ambulatory clinical programs at SSM Health, told Spectrum News 1. “The vaccine does appear to be working, and it takes about two weeks after the vaccine to reach your peak effectiveness.”

While the vaccine might not protect someone from contracting the virus this year, it should help to lessen one’s symptoms.

“At the very worst, we do see a mitigation of the symptoms,” Ottenbaker added. “In past years [there was a] 50% reduction in hospitalizations, and again, in the very young and more important in the very old who are at risk for more significant illness, [they] should really be thinking of getting this vaccine.”

You can watch the full interview above.