More in U.S. Skipping Flu Shots: State-by-State Rankings

STAFFORD, VA — In this quiet Washington, D.C., suburb, a Target pharmacy assistant stood beside a table of flu shot pamphlets and a jar of Halloween candy on a recent Saturday. She quizzed passersby about whether they wanted a flu shot, with few takers. She did give some teens an earful for grabbing some candy when her head was turned. Data from the Centers for Disease Control suggests it may be harder this year to get adults to roll up their sleeves for a flu shot.

The CDC recommends a flu vaccine for all Americans 6 months or older, preferably by the end of October. "Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations," according to a CDC statement. Severe cases of the flu can lead to death, particularly in very young children and the elderly.

Flu shot data from the 2015-16 season shows a nearly 2 percent drop in overall flu vaccinations in the U.S. Children were vaccinated at a rate comparable to the previous year, but more adults passed on their flu shot last season. Only 41.7 percent of adults got the vaccine — lower numbers than the CDC found in the two previous seasons.

If the U.S. could increase vaccination coverage by 5 percent, that would prevent about 800,000 illnesses and nearly 10,000 hospitalizations, according to CDC Director Tom Frieden. "Flu vaccine is one of the best buys in public health," Frieden said. "For employers, it will reduce your absenteeism rate. For families, it’ll reduce the likelihood that you have to miss school or work. And for all of us, increasing that rate will keep us healthier and reduce healthcare costs."

Yet, Frieden noted in a September press conference, "we're not seeing the kinds of trends we would like with flu vaccination."

Here's how states ranked in the percentage of the population who received the flu vaccine. The national rate is 45.6 percent.

1. South Dakota, 56.6

2. Rhode Island, 56.1

3. Connecticut, 52.6

4. Iowa 51.8

5. Maryland, 51.7

6. New Hampshire, 50.9

6. North Carolina, 50.9

8. Delaware, 50.5

9. Massachusetts, 50.4

10. Hawaii, 50.2

11. Minnesota, 49.7

12. West Virginia, 49.6

13. Virginia, 49.5

14. Vermont, 49.2

15. Colorado, 49.1

15. Nebraska, 49.1

15. New York, 49.1

18. Maine, 49

19. North Dakota, 48.8

20. Pennsylvania, 48.2

21. Texas, 47.9

21. Washington, 47.9

23. District of Columbia, 47.6

24. Missouri, 47.4

24. New Mexico, 47.4

26. South Carolina, 46.9

27. Tennessee, 46.3

28. Oklahoma, 45.8

29. Arkansas, 45.4

30. New Jersey, 45.4

31. Kansas, 44.4

32. Kentucky, 44.2

33. Louisiana, 44

34. Alabama, 43.9

35. Montana, 43.8

35. Ohio, 43.8

37. California, 43.7

38. Utah, 43.5

39. Indiana, 43.2

40. Illinois, 42.9

41. Wisconsin, 42.7

42. Michigan, 42.2

43. Mississippi, 42.1

44. Oregon, 42

45. Arizona, 41.5

46. Georgia, 41.2

47. Florida, 39.5

48. Idaho, 39.2

49. Wyoming, 38.1

50. Alaska, 37.9

51. Nevada, 36.8

Flu vaccines this year will not be given through nasal sprays, due to recent studies questioning the method's effectiveness. The flu bug begins to make the rounds in October and November. Most of the time flu activity peaks between December and March and can last as late as May.

And, there's a little bit of science in that aisle of the Target drugstore. A study this summer by CVS (now a pharmacy partner with the supermarket) found that Americans are more likely to get a flu vaccine when it is convenient.

Type in your zip code in the box below and you can find the nearest locations for a flu shot.

Includes reporting by Deb Belt | Image via Shutterstock