The flu season is in full swing as families from coast to coast cover their coughs and dodge oncoming sneezes. As many states plod through widespread outbreaks, health officials say a new strain of the virus is emerging that the flu immunization doesn't provide protection against. That's because each year the vaccine is created to combat the three most current strains of the virus — though other strains may crop up at any time.

In the last few weeks, the number of states experiencing the flu in full force jumped from 11 to 44. And health officials say that while this season doesn't appear to be any more severe than others, it looks like it will be lasting for a while, maybe even into May.

Many of the flu cases being reported aren't caused by the exact strains that this year's vaccine targeted. However, getting vaccinated can still help prevent complications and can make symptoms far more mild — and that's regardless of whether or not you come down with a strain of the virus that isn't part of this year's vaccine.

Although most healthy people infected with the flu virus can weather the infection without problems, the flu can cause serious sickness in some, especially those considered high risk (including children ages 6 months to 5 years, and tots with chronic conditions like asthma or diabetes).

Each year, the highly contagious seasonal bug kills 36,000 people and sends another 200,000 (including more than 20,000 kids under age 5) to the hospital. Yet a mere 1 in 5 babies and toddlers (who are especially at risk) receives the annual vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Even though it is the middle of the flu season, health officials say it's still not too late to get the vaccine. That is, if you can find it.

What This Means to You

The flu vaccine reduces the average person's chances of catching the flu by up to 80% during the season. But because it provides protection from only a few of the strains that can cause flu-like symptoms, it isn't a guarantee against getting sick. Still, even if someone who's gotten the vaccine gets the flu, symptoms usually will be fewer and milder.

Of course, it's best to get the flu shot before the virus peaks (usually from late December to early March). But the vaccine can still provide your family with protection against the nasty virus well into the full season, which lasts until April.

Keep in mind, though, that it can take 1 to 2 weeks for the flu shot to become effective. And kids under 9 who get a flu shot for the first time will need to receive it in two separate shots a month apart.

But not everyone should get the flu vaccine. Those who shouldn't include:

• infants under 6 months old
• anyone who's severely allergic to eggs and egg products. Ingredients for flu shots are grown inside eggs, so tell your doctor if your child is allergic to eggs or egg products before getting the flu shot.
• anyone who's ever had a severe reaction to a flu vaccination
• anyone with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare medical condition that affects the immune system and nerves
• anyone with a fever

Unfortunately, though, getting a flu shot late in the season might not be all that easy, depending on whether there's any still available where you live. Although more than enough flu vaccine was made for the 2007–2008 flu season, the supply always dwindles over time as people flock to get immunized, mostly between September to mid-November.

At the beginning of the season, you can usually find the vaccine at doctor's offices and public, employee, and university health clinics, as well as through some universities, pharmacies, hospitals, supermarkets, and community groups. But once the season is underway, you might need to do some digging to find a location that still has the vaccine in stock and ask whether they have additional limitations as to which children are eligible to receive it.

Contact your doctor's office first — if they don't still have it, try calling or visiting the website of your local or state health departments to find out where you could go.

Something else to consider: If you have an HMO insurance plan, check with your primary care doctor before having your kids vaccinated outside the office. Most HMOs will pay for shots only if they're given through their plan. Flu shots are generally covered by insurance for people in high-risk groups. Otherwise, they can cost anywhere from $10 to $50. And if you opt for the needle-free nasal spray flu vaccine FluMist (now available for people ages 2 to 49 who aren't considered high risk), check to see if your insurance plan covers it.

Whether you get the flu shot or not, these simple precautions can help keep the pesky bug away from your household:

• Avoid large crowds whenever possible.
• Make sure everyone washes their hands well — and often.
• Never pick up used tissues.
• Never share cups or eating utensils.
• Stay home from work or school if sick with the flu.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: February 2008