The CDC said manufacturers have produced more than 143 million doses of vaccine this year, more than ever before. But many more Americans will have to roll up their sleeves to use up that much.
"Never in the history of America have we given out anywhere near that," said Dr. Peter L. Beilenson, the health officer for Howard County, where public flu clinics begin next month.
Part of the push to get more people vaccinated is simply to keep more people healthy, he said. For example, "There has been some evidence that for seniors it may not have been as effective as originally thought. However, there is nothing better to prevent the flu. It is still better than nothing."
And for younger people it's clearly important, both to protect their health and to prevent them from becoming "vectors," spreading the virus to more vulnerable groups, including the elderly and those with compromised immune systems, Beilenson said.
Another reason to push for more vaccinations, he said, is "to keep the vaccine companies making these large numbers. If year after year you waste 10 million doses, it's harder to get them to do that."
Last year, Americans used only 113 million of the 140 million doses of flu vaccine that were manufactured, according to the CDC.
This year, the CDC's goal is to have 90 percent of people over age 65 vaccinated. Only a third of young adults with chronic illnesses, such as asthma, heart disease or a weakened immune system, were vaccinated as recommended in the 2006-2007 season. Only half of those ages 50 to 64 with those conditions were immunized.
Once again this year, Americans have two types of vaccine available - the familiar shots and a nasal spray. Both are protective against the three influenza strains that experts determined we are most likely to confront this season.
The injections are made from killed viruses, so they are incapable of transmitting the disease, although soreness, minor aches and a low fever are possible side effects, according to the CDC. The shots are recommended for people older than 6 months, whether they are healthy or immune-compromised.
The second vaccine is the nasal-spray, called FluMist. It's made from a live, weakened virus, that can produce mild symptoms. It is approved for healthy people ages 2 to 49 who are not pregnant.
Bailowitz, of the Baltimore health department, said it's important to maximize the percentage of people who are immunized because of the influenza virus' uncanny ability to mutate and dodge the defenses of the human immune system.
