National Influenza Vaccination Week is Here!

This season, National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) takes place from December 7-13th, 2014. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established NIVW in 2005 to highlight the importance of continuing flu vaccination through the holiday season and beyond. All around the country, NIVW events including press briefings, health fairs, flu vaccine promotion events, and educational opportunities will emphasize the importance of flu vaccination.

Are You at High Risk?

There are certain people who are at high risk of developing serious flu-related complications that can lead to hospitalization or even death, including pneumonia and bronchitis are two examples of flu related complications. Those at high risk include:

• Pregnant women
• Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
• People 65 years of age and older
• People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease)

If you are at high risk of developing serious flu-related complications, you should get vaccinated. Those who live with you or those who care for people at high risk should also be vaccinated to protect them. A full list of people at high risk of serious complications from flu because of age or other medical conditions is available here.

In addition, there are other people for whom vaccination is especially important:

• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
• People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
  • Health care workers
  • Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
  • Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

Visit cdc.gov for more information on the importance of flu vaccinations.