According to yesterday's Investors Business Daily:

Some 36,000 Americans die of the flu every year. Another 114,000 are hospitalized.

A slim majority of Americans 65 and older get annual flu shots. 41% for those 18-49 and 15% for those 18-49. A total of 80 million Americans got flu shots last yr.

There is now a pain-free alternative... Flu-Mist, a vaccine that can be inhaled like a nasal spray. It hit the market last month. It is currently approved for ages 5-49 - the group with the lowest vaccination rate. It is currently being tested on subjects 50 and up. Another problem... FluMist costs $46 a pop. But in time, should come down. A sign of better things to come.