National Influenza Vaccination Week Underway:
Did You Get Your Shot Yet?

Native News Network Staff in Native Health. Discussion »

ATLANTA - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared this week as National Influenza Vaccination Week 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.

Compared to the general US population, American Indian and Alaska Native people are more likely than others to get seriously ill from the flu, and during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, native people were 4 times more likely to die from the flu.

The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year.

Getting the flu vaccine each year can keep you from getting sick and keep you from spreading the flu to children and elders - those who can get very sick from flu. The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone - your whole family can get vaccinated.

Flu season is as regular as fall and winter, but a lot less fun. So as we head into flu season, it's time to get protected against the flu, by getting vaccinated - even if you got vaccinated last year.

Actor Wes Studi-Cherokee
CDC Spokesperson

People at high risk for developing serious flu complications include young children, people 65 years of age and older, pregnant women and people with long-term medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions, blood disorders, morbid obesity, kidney and liver disorders, HIV or AIDS, and cancer.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a yearly flu vaccine for every one 6 months of age and older as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses.

posted December 6, 2011 8:10 am est