November 27 - December 3 Is National Influenza Vaccination Week ... Time To Get Your Flu Vaccination!

Main Category: Flu / Cold / SARS
Also Included In: Immune System / Vaccines
Article Date: 14 Nov 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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"National Influenza Vaccination Week is a reminder that the flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your family against the flu. Influenza is a serious disease. Every year about 36,000 Americans die from this illness, and about 200,000 people are hospitalized. The best way to commemorate this week is to get yourself and your loved ones vaccinated against the flu. It's especially important for young children, for people who are 50 or older, for pregnant women, and for anyone with a chronic health condition like asthma, or heart disease, or diabetes or even AIDS to get vaccinated. So catch the holiday spirit, not the flu. Get vaccinated now.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT http://WWW.CDC.GOV/FLU.

Influenza (or Flu) Facts

-- Influenza is unpredictable and contagious.

-- The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.

-- Regular influenza or flu seasons pose an immediate danger that results, on average, in about 36,000 deaths and more than 200,000 hospitalizations in this country each year. Every year in the United States, on average, 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu.

-- When there is a good match between the vaccine and circulating influenza viruses, the flu vaccine prevents illness in about 70%-90% of healthy adults under 65 years of age.

-- Flu vaccines are safe, effective, and cannot give you influenza.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.multivu.com
http://www.cdc.gov/flu