| Get your flu shot! By now, every American has likely heard it. Many are listening. Pharmacies are seeing record demand. CVS, for example, gave more flu shots by mid-October than it did all of last season. And the drugstore chain plans to double that total. The reason for getting a flu shot is pretty simple: While imperfect, it offers the best protection against seasonal influenza, which killed an estimated 34,200 Americans last season. Yet less than half of Americans got vaccinated in that same period. This year is shaping up to be different, for good reason. Public-health officials are pushing the message of avoiding a "twindemic" of influenza and the novel coronavirus. They are encouraging people to protect themselves against at least one dangerous virus and to help preserve precious medical resources.  A CVS pharmacy in Miami. The chain gave more flu shots by mid-October than it did all of last season. Photographer: Marco Bello/Bloomberg If the trend holds, it would present a massive win in a year with few. "We would be extremely happy if the level of demand we're seeing now remains consistently high across the next several months because that would translate to much higher coverage than we've seen in recent years," said Ram Koppaka, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's associate director for adult immunization. Still, Koppaka says it's too early to draw conclusions, especially given the possibility that the rush could taper off once the early adopters are vaccinated. At Walgreens, seniors were among the first in the door, said Rina Shah, group vice president of pharmacy operations. Some health-care providers experienced issues receiving the high-dose flu shot that is recommended for people 65 and older, stalling their ability to vaccinate people among the greatest risk for complications. The CDC recommends getting vaccinated by the end of October, which is fast approaching. At the same time, Koppaka says people can still go in November or whenever the flu remains a threat. And this year, it's more important than ever.—Angelica LaVito | 
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