Flu season is rapidly approaching, and health officials are recommending that you get your shots now.

"It's good to get flu shots now, because they'll carry through the season," said Lance Madigan, spokesman for the Utah County Health Department. "The typical flu season -- and that's a very loose term, because we almost never have a typical season -- peaks in January or February."

Officials begin looking for the virus in September, though the bulk of cases don't begin surfacing until November. The last traces of flu typically dissipate in March or April, Madigan said. Last year was an especially light year in Utah County, despite a vaccine that missed two of the three major strains afflicting people nationally.

"It's just real kind of crystal-ball stuff," he said of the planning for each year's vaccine cocktail. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spend between six and nine months every year forecasting and watching trends in the southern hemisphere to develop the annual blend, Madigan said.

"It's not 100 percent, but statistically in the past they've done a fairly good job of it," he said. "We always expect mutation. That's why you always have to have an annual flu shot."

So far this year, nobody in the state has been hospitalized for influenza. There had been two hospitalizations by this time last year and the season ended with 238 total, according to the state Health Department. The department has classified Utah, Salt Lake, Davis, Summit and Tooele counties as having low activity so far this year. The rest of the state has reported no activity.

Madigan said it's always wise to get the shot, even if you can't get around to it until midway through the winter.

"We get this mind-set that if we haven't had our flu shot by Halloween, it's just not worth it," he said. "That isn't true."

The CDC says it will distribute about 145 million doses of the vaccine this year -- more than ever before. Supply problems have been rare in Utah County, but there was a shortage in 2004 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration denied a whole batch of the medicine, Madigan said. In 2006, vaccinations were delayed here because three-fourths of the shots didn't arrive until the day before Thanksgiving, Madigan said.

"There doesn't seem to be any problems with supply this year," he said.

This year's vaccine addresses three prominent flu strains: A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like, A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like, and B/Florida/4/2006-like. According to the CDC, the vaccine can prevent sickness from these three strains or lessen the effects of others.

Those at highest risk for severe complications from flu include children under 5, youth receiving long-term aspirin therapy, pregnant women, adults over 50, residents of nursing homes and long-term-care facilities and people with diabetes, asthma, emphysema, cancer and heart and kidney disease.

Margie Golden, the county health department's supervisor of school nursing, said it's important to keep kids home from school when they're showing flu symptoms -- even if they seem "just a little sick."

"Everyone should be concerned with preventing it in any way they can," she said. "There have been years when the schools have been hit pretty hard. Absenteeism will get to be a pretty alarming percentage."

• Ace Stryker can be reached at 344-2556 or astryker@heraldextra.com.

INFOBOX

The Utah County Health Department is hosting several flu immunization clinics throughout the county. The cost for a flu shot is $23, and most forms of health insurance are accepted.

• Utah County Health and Justice Building

151 S. University Ave., Provo

Mon.-Tues., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Wed., 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Thurs., 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

• Spanish Fork Senior Center

167 W. Center St,, Spanish Fork

Oct. 23 2-4 p.m.

• Payson Clinic/Senior Center

439 W. Utah Ave., Payson

Oct. 24, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; otherwise by appointment -- call 851-7025

• American Fork Clinic

120 N. 1220 East #10, American Fork

By appointment -- call 851-7025

• Saratoga Springs Clinic

250 E. State Road 73, Saratoga Springs

By appointment -- call 851-7025