Giving Compass' Take:

• Although last year's flu resulted in a record-high death toll, there is still more than 40 percent of American adults who have not received a flu shot this year. 

• Medical experts argue that reactions to the vaccine are generally mild and vaccines do not cause the flu. Additionally, getting the flu vaccine can help build "herd immunity" which protects vulnerable groups from getting sick. 

• Read about the counties where the anti-vaccine movement thrives in the U.S. 

More than 40 percent of American adults have not received a flu shot this year and don't plan to do so, according to a new poll released Wednesday.

The survey from NORC at the University of Chicago found that, as of mid-November, 41 percent of adults said they haven't been vaccinated and have no plans to change that, despite last season's record-high death toll.

Among adults who said they don't plan to get vaccinated, most were concerned about side effects and getting the flu from the vaccination. Others believed that the flu vaccines don't work very well or that they were unlikely to get sick from the flu.

Health experts argue the side effects of the vaccine are generally mild and the vaccine does not cause the flu.

For those who received flu shots in the past two flu seasons, their chance of getting the virus dropped 40 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Public health officials at the federal level have pleaded with the public to get vaccinated this year after the virus killed 80,000 people last year, making 2017 the deadliest flu season in decades.

When healthy adults get vaccinated, it can not only protect them from the flu but also stop them from spreading it to children and the elderly, who have weaker immune systems, experts say.

“Flu vaccination helps prevent people from getting sick with the flu and reduces the severity of illness for those who do get sick," said Caroline Pearson, senior fellow at NORC at the University of Chicago.

"Widespread vaccination also helps create ‘herd immunity’ that protects vulnerable groups who are prevented from getting vaccinated."

Read the full article about flu vaccine by Jessie Hellmann at The Hill