There?s still time to get a flu shot.
Federal health officials reminded people Monday that the flu season usually doesn?t peak until February or later. There?s more than enough vaccine to go around.
A record 110 million to 115 million flu shots are expected to be available this year; millions likely are to be discarded at the end of the flu season. The shots are brewed fresh before each season to match the strains of the flu virus expected to be most prevalent and cannot be saved year to year.
That so much could go to waste worries health officials, since lackluster demand for seasonal flu vaccine may discourage manufacturers from making as much in the future. That could create shortages of regular flu vaccine and discourage vaccine manufacturers from being ready to produce a pandemic vaccine if needed.
“We need to increase demand, both for public health purposes and to assure an adequate market continues,” Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said.
Local health officials are focusing their efforts on Marylanders age 50 and up.
“We recommend the older age groups and other at-risk groups, including very young children, receive vaccinations as soon as possible,” said George Reed, director of the Maryland Center for Immunization with the state?s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Not all methods of vaccination are available to seniors. Nasal spray, a relatively new alternative to the traditional injection, is licensed only for use on patients ages 5 to 49. Through trials and studies, manufacturers are working on increasing the approved age.
According to Reed, the most important messages for seniors to hear over the next potentially flu-ridden months are that flu shots are free or available at a very low cost and area flu clinics keep convenient hours, from the early morning into the evening.
Reed also stressed that the elderly should receive flu shots in order to protect themselves as well as their families. During family gatherings this holiday season, there is a greater opportunity to transmit the flu.
Although it?s too early to tell how bad the flu season will be, this year?s vaccine is a good match for the influenza viruses now circulating, said Dr. Bruce Gellin, head of the federal vaccine policy office. Health officials won?t know until after the season how many people actually received the vaccine.
Every year in the U.S., more than 200,000 people are hospitalized because of the flu, and 36,000 deaths result from flu complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
