Officials are especially vigilant this month because last year's flu season in Hawai'i peaked early — in November — and hit hard, leaving residents standing in long lines as vaccine supplies ran low. Okubo said the flu season traditionally runs from Oct. 1 to May 20; Hawai'i's season often peaks in December or later.

News last week came from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that one of three manufacturers of the flu vaccine destroyed some quantities that didn't meet quality standards. Local officials worried that the announcement from Chiron Corp. could delay the start of flu shots.

However, federal and state officials say the delay of some of Chiron's vaccine supply will have minimal effect on this season's flu vaccination.

Influenza is a serious disease that can be transmitted easily. Each year in the United States, the flu kills about 36,000 and hospitalizes 114,000. In addition, U.S. adults miss 70 million workdays each year because of the flu. That costs the country more than $14 billion in physician visits, lost productivity and lost wages, according to medical insurance company HMSA.

Okubo said the companies that make the vaccine had anticipated a big demand for this year. "Because the total production this year is greater than any other past year, there are no anticipated shortages or delays," she said.

Okubo said physicians are advised to focus vaccination efforts in October. But high-risk groups such as people with diabetes, heart disease, asthma, the very young and older residents are advised to get their shots soon, she said.

HMSA senior vice president Cliff Cisco said officials at its subsidiary of ISI Health Enhancement Services, which handles immunizations at Longs Drug Stores statewide, worried that the Chiron delay would create problems. But he said ISI was able to find alternate sources of the vaccine.

Last year, ISI gave about 30,000 flu shots or double that of the previous year.

That included the Hawai'i Senior Fair at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. Last year, that fair drew 15,000 people. Alison Russell, spokeswoman for Kaiser Permanente Hawai'i, said there was no effect from the Chiron delay here because officials ordered the vaccine from another source.

Russell said Kaiser's 70,000 doses of vaccine have arrived and distribution will begin Oct. 1 of free shots to members. "We're prepared," she said.

Dr. Lily Ning, director of University Health Services at the University of Hawai'i, said she is aware of at least one positive case of flu this season but generally advises people to get their flu shots in October or November so the protection covers through the spring.

"If you get (the vaccine) too early, you have no protection on the end of the season," Ning said. "We will be doing more promotions and outreach and encouraging people to get their flu shots."