A survey conducted by the Rand Corp. showed that less than a third of adults living in the United States have received an influenza vaccine so far this season and only about 50 percent declared they planned to get one so as to protect themselves from flu.

In a survey of 4000 American adults, no less than 30 percent had already received the flu shot. Furthermore, the results revealed that 17 percent of the participants intended to get vaccinated before the end of the season and 53 percent confessed they wouldn’t administer the vaccine. Why? There are two reasons: either they believe they don’t need one or they don’t have time.

"This report provides the public health community with a midseason snapshot while there's still time to act," said Rand economist Katherine Harris.

According to Dr. Bakari Morgan, a pediatrician with the Atlanta-based Kids Health First Pediatric Alliance, since holidays are coming, the flu bug is very likely to circulate. So adults and children should really get the flu shots, if they hadn’t done that yet.

During the past 10 years, health officials have been enlarging the recommendations on which population segments should seek protection from the flu. 2008 is the first year when children up to 18 years of age, except infants younger that 6 months old, are advised to receive the flu shot.

A record-setting amount of flu vaccine is available this season. Between 143 million and 146 million doses of influenza vaccine were manufactured for use across America throughout this influenza season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.