http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/Living/GMA031002FluSeason.html Experts are predicting the worst flu season in years and the United States government is warning Americans that it's more important than ever to get a flu vaccine
Federal officials say the United States has seen two mild flu seasons in a row, and they say it would be highly unlikely to see a third.
Dr. Walt Orenstein, director of immunization at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says health officials want people to be aware of vaccination opportunities across the nation.
"Once influenza hits the community, it tends to go through it very quickly," Orenstein said.
ABCNEWS' Dr. Timothy Johnson says some Americans don't understand just how serious a bout with the flu can be.
About 36,000 people die and 114,000 are hospitalized because of influenza each year, according to the CDC. More than 90 percent of the deaths are among people 65 and older.
"This year we're recommending that people get them [vaccinations] right away in October and November," Johnson said on Good Morning America. "The flu season will start up and in December and January, people will be ready."
Johnson said the very young and the very old are in the most danger when it comes to the flu. He says it's important to make sure they are protected with the shot.
"They [the shots] are effective in about 70 to 90 percent of the cases in young, healthy people and a little less in elderly people," Johnson said.
Johnson said health officials are especially worried this year because the flu has hit other parts of the world pretty hard this year.
"This year, Australia and New Zealand were unusually bad, so that's a prediction that we might have a bad flu season," Johnson said.
It took me out for 4 days. "Luckily" it was over the weekend so I could rest. There's no sick days in the military. 
