Flu Drug Tamiflu May Cause Odd Behavior in Children

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"It's the beginning of the flu season," Gerberding said during a teleconference. "As always, flu is unpredictable, so we are not going to be able to say how fast it's going to evolve, where it will hit next, or how bad it will be."

Cases of flu have already been reported in Arizona and California. Usually, the flu season peaks in late January or February.

Gerberding noted that this year's supply of vaccine is the largest ever produced in the United States. "We are still projecting between 110 million and 115 million doses," she said. So far, about 77 million doses have been distributed.

In all, 210 million Americans are eligible for flu shots, Gerberding said, including children between 6 months and 5 years of age.

Although the total number of vaccine doses is the largest ever, there are areas of the country experiencing shortages. "There are certain providers and health agencies that are having trouble getting their doses," Gerberding said. "There are still mismatches between the need and the supply."

Gerberding noted that these delays are out of the CDC's hands. "These are private-sector problems," she said.

The CDC is participating in a national influenza vaccine drive to encourage people to get vaccinated whenever vaccine is available. "It is never too late to get your flu shot," Gerberding said. Moreover, getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself from the flu, she added.

At the teleconference, Dr. John Agwunobi, assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said people could get vaccinated as late as early January.

Dr. L.J. Tan, a spokesman for the American Medical Association, said, "We know that there are substantial medical benefits to receiving the vaccine after Thanksgiving and beyond. It is often mistakenly believed that the only time to get the vaccine is before Thanksgiving."

Gerberding acknowledged that many parents are concerned about the addition of thimerosal to the flu vaccine. Thimerosal, a mercury compound used as a preservative, is suspected by some be at least partly responsible for the growing number of autism cases among children.