11/15/2011

Your Help is Needed Reaching Your Congregation & Community About the Importance of the Flu Vaccine

In the United States between 5% and 20% of the population gets the flu each flu season. Each year more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications. Severity of flu varies greatly from year to year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that flu-associated deaths in the U.S. ranged from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people during each flu season between 1976 and 2006. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is dedicated to reducing these numbers.

Vaccination is the best protection against getting the flu and from flu-related complications. CDC recommends that every person 6 months and older receive an annual flu vaccine.

Please share the educational material provided by the CDC with your congregation and consider reaching out to your community to encourage and educate those at greatest risk, including the homeless, shut-ins, uninsured/underinsured, immigrants and refugees.

Please go to the CDC website to download Seasonal Influenza (Flu): A Guide for Community & Faith-Based Organizations & Leaders.