Officials said that with retailers already stocking millions of doses and free shots available through Medicare and private insurance, getting a flu shot will be far easier this fall as compared to last.

According to Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, without co-pays and deductibles for the first time the federal Affordable Care Act mandates that Medicare and private health plans offer flu vaccine coverage. Under the federal Vaccines for Children program uninsured children are covered.

Sebelius added, "That will keep people healthy on the front end."

Health officials state that vaccinations would be free and everyone should get a vaccine. But those who have been advised not to take the shot are kids younger than six months and those with egg allergies.

The first high-potency vaccine is being offered by vaccine makers for those 65 and older and this is to figure out if better protection can be offered to those with aging immune systems.

Protection is being offered this year against the H1N1, swine flu virus and also two other flu viruses that also are expected to cause disease this year.

Trish Perl, a flu expert at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore said, "We could still have a bad year."