Media Relations

Author: Terri F. Date: Thursday, December 6th, 2012

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To highlight the importance of annual influenza vaccination, and to foster greater use of influenza vaccine in the months of December, January, and beyond, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, and other agencies will be conducting educational and promotional activities during National Influenza Vaccination Week, December 2–8, 2012. As of mid-November, approximately 123 million doses of 2012–2013 seasonal influenza vaccine had been delivered to vaccination providers in the United States (1).

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends influenza vaccination for persons aged ≥6 months (2). However, certain groups are at higher risk for influenza-related complications. These high-risk groups include children aged <5 years, but especially children aged <2 years; persons with certain chronic health conditions, such as heart disease, asthma, and diabetes; pregnant women; and adults aged ≥65 years. Health-care personnel also are at risk for acquiring influenza and transmitting it to their patients (3).

Posters, educational materials, and Internet tools for National Influenza Vaccination Week are available at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources and http://www.cdc.gov/flu/nivw/index.htm. Additional influenza information for health-care personnel and patients is available at http://www.cdc.gov/flu.

For more information about seasonal flu at WKU, please click here.