Two years after the unnecessary panic over bird flu, Americans are still getting flu shots in greater numbers. The shots, once regarded as an annoyance, grew to be considered a matter of urgency during the media frenzy, and statistics show they have stayed that way.
Nearly 131 million people -- about 43 percent of the U.S. population -- received flu vaccine last season. There has been a steady increase over the past several years.
According to Fox News:
“More than 85 million doses of influenza vaccine are already available in doctors' offices, public health clinics, pharmacies and retail stores. And all 50 U.S. states now allow pharmacists to administer the influenza vaccine.”