Celebrate National Influenza Vaccination Week
January 7, 2010 - According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), overall flu activity decreased slightly in the United States during the week of December 20-26, 2009. In addition, the number of states reporting widespread flu activity decreased from 7 to 4. Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness increased; however, the proportion of tests for influenza that were positive continued to decline and the overall hospitalization rates were unchanged from the previous week. Flu-associated deaths among all ages increased from the previous week, but fewer deaths in children were reported compared to the prior week (4 versus 9).
The CDC cautions, however, that the flu is unpredictable and its activity can rise and fall throughout the season. The flu is likely to continue for months, caused by either 2009 H1N1 viruses or seasonal flu viruses. According to the CDC, in addition to the seasonal flu vaccine, a vaccine against the 2009 H1N1 virus has been produced and is the best way to protect against the pandemic virus. Supplies of the vaccines are increasing and many places have opened up vaccination to anyone who wants it.
National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) was established to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination, as well as to foster greater use of flu vaccine after the holiday season into January and beyond. This year’s NIVW occurs January 10-16, 2010.
Every year, specific days during NIVW are designated to highlight the importance of vaccination for certain groups, such as health care workers and children. This year’s national schedule is as follows:
Sunday, January 10 – Kickoff
Monday, January 11 – General audience and health care workers
Tuesday, January 12 – People with chronic health conditions that put them at risk for serious influenza-related complications
Wednesday, January 13 – Children, pregnant women, and caregivers of infants less than 6 months old
Thursday, January 14 – Young adults (19 to 24 years old)
Friday, January 15 – Seniors
Saturday, January 16 – Wrap-up
To help celebrate, the NIVW website lists national, regional and state and territorial activities that will be taking place to during the event; and includes posters, brochures, fact sheets, and other materials for use during NIVW; a media toolkit; web tools; influenza campaign articles; resources for health professionals and partners; as well as related links.
Source: CDC’s H1N1 webpage and NIVW website.