Flu season has started early and hit hard in the many states in the U.S. The publicity about the severity of the disease has increased demand for flu vaccines and caused the supply to drop very quickly.

Many people in the U.S. have already come down with the flu this year. There were cases reported as early as October in Texas and several other states. Dr. Janak Koirala, assistant professor of infectious diseases at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, explains why some people are getting sick even though they got flu shots.

SOUND BITE: ". . .this year, the strain that is ah circulating around seems to be a little different than the vaccine strain. Still the strains available in the vaccine should provide some degree of cross protection. That means it may not protect from catching flu but it will still protect a person from getting a severe disease."

The severity of the disease has increased the demand for flu vaccines and caused the supply to drop very quickly. Dr. Koirala says there is no need to panic. Even though some public health departments are running short of vaccine, there is still some available at pharmacies and doctor's offices. He says there is an alternative vaccine that can be used by some people.

SOUND BITE: "There is another kind of vaccine also available for the people - healthy people between 5 years and 50 years of age. It's called Flu Mist and it 's a nasal spray, that we have been alternating for otherwise healthy people."

If you or a family member has symptoms similar to that of a cold - combined with high fever, body ache and headache, you probably have the flu. If the symptoms are severe or last longer than one week, you should see your family doctor for evaluation and treatment.