LYNN – / Achoo! It?s that time of the year again, flu season, and health officials are urging residents to get their free flu vaccine to beat the bug.Lynn Public Health Director Mary Ann O?Connor said this year?s vaccination is a combination of the H1N1 strain and the seasonal flu, as opposed to two separate shots last year.?This year is certainly a little bit less crazy than last year with the nervousness due to H1N1,” she said. “We?re pushing the mist vaccine this year because it?s a lot easier (to administer) and it works just as fast.”O?Connor said the city currently has approximately 600 doses of the flu shots and 500 doses of the mist, with more on the way in November. The School Department has its own supply, which O?Connor said should be enough for now.In prior years, O?Connor said the flu season, which runs through February, was particularly rough on the elderly population, but last year?s H1N1 hit the younger population the hardest.?This year, it?s a typical flu season and everybody should have it (vaccine),” she said. “Especially after H1N1,which is still out there, everyone is susceptible and it?s better to be safe than sorry.”According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from April 2009 through mid-May 2010, 341 pediatric deaths were reported from influenza and nearly 90 percent of deaths caused by influenza and its complications occur among people 65 years of age and older.As a result, vaccinations are recommended by the CDC for everyone 6 months of age and older, along with pregnant women, people with certain chronic medical conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease and diabetes.Several flu clinics are being held, including one today at Breed Middle School from 5:30-7:30 p.m.; Pickering Middle School on Wednesday from 5:30-7:30 p.m., and at North Shore Community College on Thursday from 1-4 p.m.?Parents and siblings of students can also get their shots at the school clinics,” O?Connor said. “And as the flu season goes on, we?ll probably start offering a limited supply of the shots at City Hall like we did last year.”The Lynn Housing Authority will also be offering flu shots on Nov. 9.