As the flu season gets under way, about one in three Americans have already been vaccinated, health officials reported today. That’s about the same rate or even a little ahead of seasonal flu vaccinations at this time last year, says Dr. Anne Schuchat, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. “We find that very encouraging,” says Schuchat, noting that the flu hasn’t been in the headlines as it was last year during the swine flu global epidemic. In a survey of adults and children, a third reported getting vaccinated, 15% say they would definitely get vaccinated and another 25% say they probably would, she said.
Flu usually peaks between January and March but was widespread a year ago because of swine flu. So far, flu activity nationwide has been low, except in the Southeast, particularly Georgia. For the first time, officials this year are urging nearly everyone to get protected with a flu shot or nasal spray. The only exception is babies younger than 6 months.
