Fayette County has recorded 78 reported flu cases — 53 of them among children and young people — which is down from the flu numbers for this time in 2011, when the county tallied 160 confirmed cases.

But that's no reason to assume that the worst of the flu season is over and those who didn't get a flu shot are safe until next fall.

Kevin Hall, spokesman for the Lexington Fayette County Health Department, said that the flu season has shifted so that the peak season now is late February and the beginning of March. Previously it had been late January and early February.

Another possibility for the low number of confirmed flu cases is that more people are getting flu shots, which have become ubiquitous in shopping centers, grocery stores, pharmacies and workplaces.

"You pretty much can't go anywhere in Lexington without turning around and seeing a sign, 'flu shots available,'" Hall said.

It's not too late to get a flu shot, he said, because the shots take around two weeks to fully protect the individual. That would protect latecomers as the flu season hits a crest in another two to three weeks.

Last flu season the health department gave 5,526 flu shots and recorded 305 confirmed flu cases.

Flu shots are available at the Public Health Clinic North on Newtown Circle. The shots cost $25 and various insurance plans are accepted in addition to cash, checks and credit cards.