It's that time of year again, when the influenza virus makes its annual appearance.

Influenza writes it's own script, but typically shows up in the Fall and generally ends in the Spring, AHS says they've already seen a few sporadic cases since school began.

Some symptoms of the flu are fever, cough, sore throat, aches and pains, and fatigue.

Calgary Medical Officer of Health Dr. Judy MacDonald says while these symptoms go along with the common cold, it's important to know the difference between the two.

"It's sometimes hard to differentiate between influenza and symptoms of the common cold," she says. "The flu is typically a sudden onset of headache, fever, dry cough, that goes on into muscle aches, and just really extreme feeling of exhaustion. Whereas a cold you can certainly have a sore throat, but you get a sense that it's coming."

In the past years the vaccination created for flu season was not as effective as some Albertans expected, Dr. MacDonald explains that shouldn't be an excuse to not get the vaccination this year.

"The influenza vaccine is the very best way to protect yourself. The vaccines contain either 3 or 4 different strains of influenza, sometimes the strain in the vaccine is slightly different than the strain that comes in the fall. But even if it's off a little bit you still may have some protection."

She shares the myth about people getting quite sick from the influenza vaccine is also not an excuse to not get the shot.

"The vaccines that we use cannot give you influenza, it's not uncommon to feel a bit of a headache, a sore arm, and muscle aches and pains for a day or so, but that's just your immune system reacting to the vaccine."

Dr. MacDonald says the vaccine is the best way to protect yourself, she stresses to stay home if you are sick, and wash your hands often during flu season.