Saying they were entering into uncharted territory, local physicians are urging the public to roll up their sleeves for the vaccine that protects against the seasonal flu. At many local hospitals, health care workers will start getting their vaccines on Sept. 21. Patients can also start making appointments with their physicians to get vaccinated. 'We advise people to get their flu shots from their primary physician, but if they can't for some reason, they can get it at Urgent Care or at certain pharmacies,' said Dr. Jerrold Dreyer, a physician with Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys. But Dreyer and others are hearing that their patients will skip the seasonal flu shot to instead wait for the upcoming H1N1 vaccine. The novel strain -- dubbed swine flu -- emerged in April. That vaccine won't be available until October and it requires two doses, another source of confusion among the public. 'People are not sure whether they should take the seasonal or H1N1 vaccine because we're mostly seeing H1N1 now,' Dreyer said. 'This is uncharted territory. My sense is people are more worried about H1N1.' So far, there have been no reports about seasonal flu vaccine shortages. The California Department of Public health will receive nearly 684,000 doses, to be distributed to public health departments statewide. Private health care organizations receive their own doses. L.A. County health officials said the public should not dismiss the seasonal flu, which kills up to 35,000 people a year. 'I think it is a little challenging to make people understand they need two (different) vaccines,' said Dr. Alonzo Plough, director for emergency preparedness for the Los Angeles County Department of Health. He said it's important to receive the seasonal flu shot first. 'Our message is that the seasonal flu shot is a good preventative measure for the whole population,' Plough said. The CDC expects there will be about 116 million doses of vaccine against regular winter flu available this year, not quite as much as last fall's record supply. But typically only 100 million Americans seek flu vaccine, even though it's recommended for the vast majority of the population. Everyone is urged to get a seasonal flu shot, especially those who are 50 and older, all children ages 6 months to 18 years, pregnant women, people with chronic health problems like asthma, heart disease or a weakened immune system, as well as health workers and caregivers of high-risk patients. When the swine flu vaccine arrives in October, health officials recommend the first to get it should be pregnant women, children from 6 months to young adults up to 24 years old, health workers, and younger and middle-aged adults with chronic health conditions. To find where seasonal flu vaccines are available, go to the American Lung Association's site at www.flucliniclocator.org. 