Health officials have launched campaigns encouraging Americans to get the flu shot this season even though the flu isn’t drawing as much attention as it was last year.

The number of people seeking flu shots so far this year has dropped compared to the numbers last year according to Laurie Dondelinger, spokeswoman Kohll's Pharmacy & Homecare chain.

Dondelinger believes the number decrease is possibly because the virus has received less attention. The vaccination count has started to increase in the past week.

In Iowa the state has launched TV ads focusing on the message, “the flu ends with you” which encourages everyone to stop the spread of flu by getting vaccinated.

Last year, people needed two vaccines: one for the seasonal strain and one for H1N1. The H1N1 flu emerged too late in the year to have been included in the regular seasonal vaccine.

The 2010 flu vaccine will contain three viral strains: influenza A H3N2, influenza B and the 2009 version of H1N1.

H1N1 flu first emerged in spring 2009 and was responsible for the first flu pandemic in more than 40 years.

The number of flu cases usually peaks in January and February. The federal government recommends that everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated.