SAN FRANCISCO — Americans ready to take up arms and noses against the bug that causes the seasonal flu have plenty of ammunition this year.

The federal government expects a record amount of flu vaccine to be on hand at clinics, doctors' offices, drugstores and certain retail outlets in the next few months.

About 140 million to 146 million doses will be available through the end of the flu season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most vaccines are in the form of injectable flu shots, but up to 12 million doses can be applied as a nasal spray in healthy people ages 2 to 49.

There are six manufacturers for this year's supply and no production bottlenecks reported so far, said Tony Fiore, a medical epidemiologist for the CDC in Atlanta.

"We've been lucky and were able to produce it quite effectively and ship it out in late August," he said.

Consumers who haven't done so yet can get vaccinated right away since the immune response lasts throughout the flu season, Fiore said. Influenza typically doesn't peak until February, but some years it starts early and strong, such as the severe flu season that struck suddenly in October 2003. Vaccination is available later in the season, but it often pays to act sooner.

"Getting it done earlier is better for two reasons: It means you don't forget and don't find your physician stops vaccinating or doesn't have it," Fiore said. "The other is you never know when we'll have an early season. If you've made the decision to get vaccinated, there's no reason to delay it and risk having, in your particular community, a peak in October."

Each year, influenza sends 200,000 Americans to the hospital and kills 36,000 on average, most of them elderly or with compromised immune systems.

The CDC says anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu and doesn't have an allergy to chicken eggs can get vaccinated, but certain groups should make sure they don't miss out.

The agency recommends that all children age six months through 18 receive immunizations. The CDC also urges pregnant women, people over 50, residents of long-term-care facilities, those with chronic medical conditions and those in close contact with any of these vulnerable groups to get a vaccine.

"Essentially what they're saying is everybody should get a flu vaccine," said Dr. Paul Glezen, professor of microbiology and pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.