Story Published:
Sep 24, 2008 at 4:34 PM CST
Story Updated:
Oct 10, 2008 at 9:30 AM CST
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says too many people brave influenza season without the protection offered by a vaccine. It’s calling for a record number of people to line up for inoculations this year, including 30 million more school-age children than last year.
The CDC says, unless a child has a serious egg allergy, he or she needs to get flu shots. The government says that's because students are more likely to get the flu and more likely to spread it around schools and childcare centers.
The agency says there is an ample supply of vaccine, up to 146 million doses, more than ever before. Last winter, only about 80 percent of the vaccine available was used.
The CDC recommends 261 million Americans get flu shots. The organization's data shows just a fraction of those in the highest risk group get protected.
Flu kills about 36,000 Americans a year and leads to about 200,000 hospitalizations.
