November 27-December 3 is National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has designated the week November 27 through December 3, as National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW). This event’s objective is to raise awareness of the importance of continuing influenza (flu) vaccination, as well as to foster greater use of the flu vaccine through the months of November, December, and beyond. According to the CDC, national interest in getting a flu vaccination has traditionally tapered off after Thanksgiving. However, flu activity typically does not peak until February or later, therefore, November and December are also good times to be vaccinated.
According to the CDC, each year in the United States, between 5 and 20 percent of the population is infected with influenza, about 36,000 people die, and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized due to influenza complications. The flu can be passed from one person to another by coughs or sneezes or a person can be infected simply by touching a surface such as a phone or door knob that has been contaminated by someone with the virus. People are at higher risk of getting infected in highly populated areas such as schools.
Symptoms of the flu include body aches, chills, dry cough, fever, headache, sore throat, and stuffy nose and complications may arise in case the person gets a bacterial infection, which can cause pneumonia. Certain groups are urged to get the flu vaccine including: children 6 months to five years old; those who are in close contact with children up to 5 years of age; adults 50 or older; pregnant women; and health care providers; among others. Nevertheless, the CDC is encouraging anyone who wants to decrease the risk of influenza to get vaccinated.
As NIVW approaches, 77 million flu vaccine doses have already been distributed and vaccine supply is expected to reach an all-time high.
NIVW presents a good opportunity for schools to remind school staff, parents and students of the importance of getting vaccinated and to utilize prevention measures. In addition, below are additional suggestions for what schools can do to prevent the spread of flu:
- Any employee, student, teacher, or staff suspected of having the flu should not attend school;
- Hands should be washed several times a day using soap and warm water for 15-20 seconds (generally around the time it takes to sing the ABC’s) and hands should be dried with paper towels or automatic hand dryers if possible. Young children should be instructed and assisted to ensure proper hand washing;
- Students and staff should cover their mouths when coughing and use a tissue when sneezing or blowing their noses. Tissues should be made available in all classrooms as well as school buses;
- Schools may be required to report flu absences to their local health departments which assists in disease surveillance and the understanding the impact in the community;
- Schools should be extra-vigilant that ill students be excluded from sports activities, choir or any activities that may involve close contact and all students should avoid sharing glasses, water bottles, drinks, spoons/forks, etc.;
- Commonly used surfaces such as door handles, handrails, eating surfaces, desks and the interior surfaces of buses should be cleaned with disinfectants frequently; and
- As stated previously, staff and students (especially those with medical conditions and anyone else who wants to lower their risk of getting the flu) should get the shot.
For additional information on NIVW and the flu, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu or contact:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30333
Phone: (404) 693-3311
CDC Contact Center: 800-CDC-INFO
Source: CDC Press Release: “CDC Designates November 27-December 3 as National Influenza Vaccination Week and Encourages Vaccination throughout Influenza Season,” November 16, 2006; “Flu,” NIAID Fact Sheet, NIH, November 2006; and “Flu Season and Schools,” The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools Website, September 2006.