Kim, washing your hands won't prevent inhaling something airborne, BUT...
What Bobert said. Cold and flu viruses aren't airborne.
If somebody coughs or sneezes, the viruses don't stay in the air. They cough or sneeze, 'stuff' comes out, whether in large globs [sorry] or minute invisible droplets and it falls on surfaces. You touch the surface, then scratch your eye, stick a finger in your mouth or up your nose, and you have it. Somebody blows their nose, and 10 minutes later shakes your hand. You wash your hands after someone who's sick washes theirs. Good, but there's the faucet handle on the sink, the surface around the sink, the handle on the paper towel dispenser, the doorknob...

Now, you can try to get the paper towel out before you wash your hands, and when you're done, turn the faucet off with the towel, then open the door with it before going for the 3-point shot into the trash bin. I once worked in an office and tried all of this stuff and STILL got the stupid office cold. I probably touched a desk or phone or pen or something else.

I DO wash my hands, but I'm still going to get colds. I try to look at them as unpleasant workouts for my immune system. Influenza, however, is something I really don't want.

I don't believe there was a shortage of vaccine before increased cases of flu and flu deaths began being reported. I think the post-media focus demand is what created the shortage, but I'm guessing. The time to get the vaccination is before, not after an epidemic starts - it's prevention, not a cure. It takes two weeks or longer after the shot for immunity to develop. If someone had already been infected or becomes infected in that period, the shot isn't going to do them any good. Barn door/horse analogy. People should still get the shot if they're at risk, and the vaccine should be available - there's no 'cut-off period' for flu season.