Health experts recommend annual influenza vaccination for more than 220 million people in the United States. Despite this recommendation, influenza immunization rates fall far short every year. Approximately 1 to 5 million residents in the region of Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia will suffer from influenza in an average year.
The American Lung Association (ALA) is conducting a national educational campaign, the “Faces of Influenza,” as a multi-year public awareness initiative to help put a “face” on this serious disease. The campaign encourages people to recognize annual influenza immunization as an important preventative measure to protect themselves and their loved ones each year.
The best way to reduce the effects of influenza is through annual vaccination. Influenza vaccines are safe and effective, yet only 20.6 percent of children recommended for annual immunization in the United States receive their annual vaccination.
Are you at risk? According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the following people should receive an annual vaccination:
• People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, diabetes, and others.
• Children 6-59 months of age.
• Pregnant women.
• People 50 years of age and older.
• Household contacts and caregivers of anyone in a high-risk group, including parents, grandparents, siblings, babysitters, and daycare providers.
• Residents of long-term care facilities and nursing homes.
• Health-care personnel.
• Children 6 months-18 years of age who are on long-term aspirin treatment.
• Anyone, including school-aged children, who wants to prevent influenza.
For more information about the “Faces of Influenza” educational initiative, visit www.facesofinfluenza.org. For more information about the American Lung Association and to support the work that it does, call (800) 586-4872 or visit www.lungusa.org. The American Lung Association’s Faces of Influenza educational initiative is made possible by a collaboration with Sanofi Pasteur.
