Better safe than sorry. Better early than late.

Operating on those two principles, thousands of senior citizens lined up yesterday at the Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall yesterday to get the anti-flu season off to a rousing start.

Officially, the event was the 2006 Seniors' Fair: The Good Life Expo, but for many, one of the top attractions was a chance to be among the first people in the state to get their annual flu shots.

"I figured if I do it today, it's one more thing I won't have to worry about tomorrow," said 75-year-old George Loo, a Palama resident who was among nearly 3,000 people expected to get flu shots from a Kaiser Permanente booth. The lines were even longer over at Hawai'i Medical Service Association, where some people were waiting for more than an hour when the doors first opened at 8:30 a.m.

"I come early every year," Loo said. "The flu is always more serious for the elderly who don't have the strength to fight it. Everybody should get the shots, especially because they're free."

Unlike some recent years, the supply of flu vaccines is plentiful throughout the state this year, health officials said. And there's more interest than in the past, in part because of continuing fears about a possible avian flu.

Health officials generally recommend getting a flu shot sometime in the early fall, guarding against an outbreak through the winter months, said Teresa Michard, immunization project coordinator for Kaiser Permanente in Hawai'i.

"We're in good shape this year. There's plenty of vaccine available," Michard said.

A steady stream of seniors — many bused in from as far away as Wai'anae and Waimanalo by community organizations — filled out short forms and got the preventive shots in a process that took just a few minutes.

There were a few winces as people received their shots, but smiles as they walked away in sturdy shoes, having received a free packet of green tea as well as a sense of protection.

"It's so nice that they make it so easy, but I'm glad it's over," said Emma Hoohuli, who was waiting for her husband, Joseph, to get his shot so they could move on to other things at the fair.

Kaiser, HMSA and other health officials plan to offer free flu shots at dozens of public locations throughout the state between now and late October. They also will be available in clinics and doctor offices. Those interested should contact their doctor or healthcare provider, officials said.

The shots are available to everyone, but especially recommended for individuals 65 and over, pregnant women, children ages 6 months to 59 months and people with chronic conditions such as heart or lung problems, kidney disease, diabetes, asthma, cancer or HIV/AIDS.

HMSA 2006 COMMUNITY FLU SHOT CLINICS: O'AHU AND NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

O'ahu