Experts say there’s no way to predict how intense this flu season will be, but they offer some good news to anyone who’s concerned: Flu shots are available almost everywhere.

Doctors’ offices. Local hospitals. Area pharmacies.

The grocery store.

Because the flu is a virus that changes constantly, flu strains differ from year to year. Experts try to forecast which strains will dominate, and they include those in that year’s vaccine. This year the shot includes two strains of influenza A and one strain of influenza B.

Sometimes those forecasts are accurate and the vaccine matches the type of flu circulating that season. A good match means good protection and a less intense flu season.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vaccine has been a good match 16 of the past 20 years. It was not such a good match last year.

Because the flu season hasn’t yet begun – no flu has been reported in Maine and cases have only been sporadic in other states – it’s too early to say whether this year’s vaccine is a good match for this year’s flu strain.

But experts say virtually everyone should get a flu shot in an effort to ward off the respiratory virus, which hospitalizes more than 200,000 people each year and kills 36,000, according to the national CDC. It recommends an annual flu shot for children 6 months to 18 years old, adults with chronic diseases or compromised immune systems, women who are pregnant or who plan to become pregnant during flu season and anyone over 50. It also recommends the vaccine for those who spend time around people in those at-risk groups.

In years past, vaccines have been scarce, forcing doctors to limit who received the shots.

“This year it’s not going to be a problem,” said Ned Claxton, program director at the Central Maine Medical Center Family Medicine Residency.

Area pharmacies and stores are offering flu shot clinics through October and November. St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center and Central Maine Medical Center have partnered to host six area flu shot clinics between Friday and Nov. 21.

At Bridgton Hospital this weekend, flu shot seekers won’t even have to get out of their cars. The hospital will host a “drive-thru” flu shot clinic for adults on Saturday, allowing drivers to stop at the main entrance, fill out a release form and get the shot.

Most flu shot clinics charge $10 to $30 per shot, though many waive the fee for Medicare patients or those with certain insurance carriers.

For information about flu shot clinics, the Maine CDC recommends calling 211, the state’s health and human services information line, or by visiting www.211maine.org, www.findaflushot.com or www.flucliniclocator.org.

Preservative-free flu vaccines and nasal spray flu vaccines are also available, but public flu clinics generally don’t offer them. Patients should contact their doctors’ offices for more information about those.

The flu season starts in October or November and runs through April. Because it takes a couple of weeks for the vaccine to start working, experts recommend getting the shot at the beginning of the season for it to be most effective, though they say the shots can still provide some protection for people who get them mid-winter.

If you want a flu shot, check with:

– Your doctor’s office

– The local hospital

– An area home health care agency

– www.211maine.org or call 211

– www.findaflushot.com

– www.flucliniclocator.org