Fifty-six more Californians under the age of 65 have died from the flu, the state reported Friday, bringing the toll for the season to 202 with another 41 deaths under investigation.

At this time last year, 18 individuals under 65 had died from the flu and just over 100 people died during the entire 2012-13 flu season, which typically lasts through March.

The predominate flu virus circulating this year is H1N1 — known as “swine flu” when it emerged back in 2009. Then, as now, the virus disproportionately affected younger adults, children, people with chronic medical conditions and pregnant women.

The state reported Friday that at least 132 of the 202 flu-related deaths occurred in individuals with underlying medical conditions.

This year’s flu vaccine does provide protection against H1N1 and residents of Yolo County appear to be heeding health officials’ calls to be vaccinated. A free flu shot clinic held in West Sacramento on Wednesday resulted in 826 people being vaccinated — more than twice the number that turned out for a free clinic in Woodland the week before.

So far there have been no flu-related deaths in Yolo County, though six people have been hospitalized in intensive care units, according to county spokeswoman Beth Gabor.

Health officials continue to urge vaccination for everyone over the age of 6 months.

Vaccines are available at doctor’s offices and pharmacies and at the Yolo County Health Department’s weekly flu vaccine clinics.

The clinics take place from 2 to 5 p.m. on the first Monday of the month at 500B Jefferson Blvd. in West Sacramento and on the second, third and fourth Mondays at 137 N Cottonwood St. in Woodland. Vaccinations cost $10 each but no one is turned away for inability to pay.

For more information, call 530-666-8645.

While Yolo County has thus far been spared any flu deaths, Sacramento County continues to be one of the hardest-hit counties in the state, with 21 confirmed deaths as of last Friday. Only Los Angeles County has more (26).

Other area counties experiencing flu deaths included Solano with one death and Sonoma with four.

— Reach Anne Ternus-Bellamy at [email protected] or 530-747-8051.

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