The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reiterated its recommendation that all kids aged 6 to 18 years get the flu shot needed for full protection against influenza, as well as pregnant women who will be pregnant during the flu season-October through mid-May, persons over 50 years old, people with certain chronic medical conditions and residents of nursing homes or other chronic-care facilities. Before the age of 6 months, children are too young to be vaccinated.

Vaccination of pregnant women is a two for one benefit because it provides protection to both women and their babies and it is an essential part of prenatal care. Studies have shown that a flu shot administrated to a pregnant woman can reduce a newborn’s risk of infection by 63 percent.

Record numbers of vaccinations are expected this year, compared to last year’s situation when the vaccine was just 44 percent effective, health officials say. This year, the CDC is recommending that more Americans than ever get their annual flu vaccination.

While the number of flu cases is usually highest between December and March, people should start getting vaccinated this month, said William Schaffner, president-elect of the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases. Those at highest risk should be vaccinated during the month of October because it can take two weeks to develop full immunity after receiving the vaccine. He says that school-age children have the highest rate of influenza. By targeting them, officials hope to reduce outbreaks in communities. The measure is aimed at reducing the amount of time children miss school due to influenza, Schaffner said.

The CDC’s recommendations, supported by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and the American Academy of Pediatrics, expand the number of children targeted by flu vaccinations to include all school-age children. That means 30 million kids and a total of 86% of Americans are now supposed to get yearly flu shots.

The new vaccine contains one influenza B strain and two influenza A strains. The U.S. has 145 million doses of flu vaccine available this year. However, experts warn that not enough people are getting vaccinated, including many individuals at high risk for contracting the flu.

“It's a fact that the influenza vaccine saves lives by not only helping to prevent flu, but also by preventing the serious complications that sometimes result from infection with influenza,” said Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Each year, 5 to 20% of the nation’s population come down with the flu, about 200,000 (of 15 to 16 million) people needing to be admitted to hospitals. Of these, approximately 36,000 die from influenza-related complications. Up to 90% of them are seniors. Last year, 86 children between the ages of 15 and 17 died of influenza.

The CDC says the vaccine is 90% effective in healthy adults. Older people and people with certain chronic illnesses might develop less immunity than healthy young adults after vaccination. However, even for these high-risk individuals, the vaccine still can provide protection against getting severe complications from the flu, the CDC says.

“The message for most people is get your flu shot,” Gerberding said.