Jennifer Culbertson says the flu knocked her out of work for a week and a half...she's one of many people hit by the bug last year. "I thought I was going to die. I've never felt like that before in my life and I will never feel like that again," she said.

To make matters worse: health department epidemiologists tell CBS 42 the strains that caused widespread outbreaks in 45 of 50 states were not the ones in last year's vaccine. "There was still some protection offered, because they were in the same family of the types that were in the vaccine but it wasn't a real good match," said Deborah Kilgo of the Jefferson County Health Department.

That's why this year four flu vaccine makers began shipping 143 million doses over the past two weeks. "The manufacturers started trying to get the majority of their vaccine ready for shipment before October, because we had cases early last year," Kilgo explained.

Doctors say it's very important for parents to be vaccinated because the flu is one of several diseases that can be passed from children to adults.

SOT ANN NELSON: "I got the flu shot my whole family did except for my first grader because he's allergic to eggs because my father is having chemo," said Ann Nelson, a parent at Homewood Park today.

This year for the first time in many years, all three strains of flu in the vaccine are different from last year, so it's even more important to get your shot early.

The Jefferson County Health Department says they will have flu shots available sometime in early September; they also recommend frequent hand washing as a very effective deterrent for the flu virus.