More people are getting the message that flu shots are a good idea.

The province is reporting that 300,000 more people have rolled up their sleeves than at this time last year.

Toronto’s Associate Medical Officer of Heatlh Dr. Barbara Yaffe says publicity campaigns and concerns about the H1N1 strain are encouraging people to get the shot.

So far this year, six people in Toronto have died of the flu, two from the H1N1 strain. But the overall number of reported cases of flu is down from last year.

Dr. Scott Wooder is the President of the Ontario Medical Association. He says there is still time to get vaccinated. He also says employers shouldn’t demand a doctor’s note from people who are too sick to work. Wooder says that policy is responsible for thousands of unnecessary doctors’ visits.

Toronto Public Health will release its latest flu numbers this morning. It says the yearly outbreak of influenza is likely at its peak right now.

Vaccination clinics are still running, and free flu shots are available at most pharmacies.