Salt Lake County recorded 10 flu hospitalizations in two weeks, roughly five times the expected rate, and health officials want Sandy residents vaccinated before the early surge gets worse.

Flu activity in the county does not usually build until late December or January, the Salt Lake County Health Department said. But as of Tuesday, Oct. 6, the season was already well underway, Fox 13 first reported.

Sandy residents can get a flu shot at the Southeast Public Health Center, 9340 South 700 East. The clinic is open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and closed Fridays. It closes between 12:30 and 1 p.m. for lunch. Appointments can be made by calling 385-468-SHOT (385-468-7468), and same-day slots are often available, according to the county's immunization page. Flu shots are also available at doctors' offices and pharmacies.

"At this point in the season, we'd usually see one hospitalization a week at most," a county epidemiologist told Fox 13. "We're seeing certainly more than we would expect at this time of year."

COVID-19 is climbing too. The health department reported six COVID hospitalizations in the week before Oct. 6.

Officials are urging residents not to wait for the traditional winter peak. A flu shot can take up to two weeks to reach full effectiveness, meaning anyone who delays could be unprotected during the early surge.

The CDC recommends an annual flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older, with rare exceptions. The vaccine lowers the risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death, especially for older adults, young children, pregnant people and people with certain underlying health conditions, according to Fox 13's report.

Salt Lake County clinics offer several options: nasal-spray doses for eligible patients, high-dose shots for adults 65 and older and an mRNA flu vaccine for eligible adults. Nurses at county clinics can confirm which options are currently available and help patients choose the right one.