FFF Supports National Influenza Vaccination Week – December 2 through 8, 2012

Date: December 4, 2012

National Influenza Vaccination Week is a national observance established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination, as well as fostering greater use of flu vaccine after the holiday season into January and beyond.

Here are some vaccination tips from the CDC:

• Everyone 6 months of age and older should get the flu vaccine. Seasonal flu vaccines have a very good safety track record and will protect you for one flu season.
• The flu vaccine is available by shot or nasal spray.
• The flu shot is:
  
  • Made with inactivated (killed) flu virus
  • Given by needle
  • Approved for use in healthy people older than 6 months and people with chronic health conditions
  • Available in 3 types: Regular, for people aged 6 months and older; High-dose, for people 65 years of age and older; Intradermal, for people aged 18-64
• The flu nasal spray is:
  
  • Made with weakened live flu virus
  • Given with a mist sprayed in your nose
  • Approved for healthy people between the ages of 2 and 49, except pregnant women

Every flu season is different because the flu is always unpredictable. Although last year’s flu season was mild, the severity of 2012/13 outbreak remains to be seen. With that in mind, there has never been a better time to make scheduling an annual flu vaccine a top priority. For more information on National Influenza Vaccination Week, visit https://www.cdc.gov/flu/nivw/.