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Persons using assistive technology might not be able to fully access information in this file. For assistance, please send e-mail to: mmwrq@cdc.gov. Type 508 Accommodation and the title of the report in the subject line of e-mail. Notice to Readers: National Influenza Vaccination Week --- November 26--December 2, 2007To help raise awareness regarding the importance of obtaining influenza vaccination throughout the entire influenza season, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Influenza Vaccine Summit, CDC, and other partners are conducting activities during the second annual National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW), November 26--December 2. Influenza vaccination coverage in all groups recommended for vaccination remains suboptimal. Despite the timing of the peak of influenza disease, administration of vaccine decreases substantially after November. According to results from the National Health Interview Survey regarding the two most recent influenza seasons, approximately 84% of all influenza vaccinations were administered during September--November* (Figure). Among persons aged >65 years, the percentage of September--November vaccinations was even higher, at 92% (CDC, unpublished data, 2007). Because many persons recommended for vaccination remain unvaccinated at the end of November, CDC is encouraging public-health partners and health-care providers to conduct vaccination clinics and other activities that promote influenza vaccination during NIVW and throughout the remainder of the influenza season. Each year, on average, approximately 15--60 million persons in the United States are infected with influenza virus; an estimated 200,000 persons are hospitalized from influenza complications, and an estimated 36,000 persons die from those complications (1). Influenza vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza and potentially severe complications. CDC recommends that anyone who wants to reduce their risk for influenza infection should be vaccinated every influenza season. Annual vaccination is particularly important for the following groups (1).
The time to receive influenza vaccination starts when vaccine becomes available in the local community and continues into January or later, when the influenza season typically peaks. Throughout NIVW, CDC will be highlighting the importance of influenza vaccination for persons at high risk, their close contacts, and all those who want to be protected from influenza. CDC, Families Fighting Flu, and other partners also have designated Tuesday, November 27, as Children's Flu Vaccination Day to put a special focus on the importance of vaccinating children at high risk and their close contacts. NIVW posters and other influenza educational materials are available to download for local printing and distribution at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/flugallery. Other influenza-related tools and information for health-care professionals and patients are available at http://www.cdc.gov/flu. Reference* Respondents were asked two series of questions: "During the past 12 months, have you had a flu shot?" "A flu shot is usually given in the fall and protects against influenza for the flu season." "During what month and year did you receive your most recent flu shot?" and "During the past 12 months, have you had a flu vaccine sprayed in your nose by a doctor or other health professional?" "A health professional may have let you spray it." "This vaccine is usually given in the fall and protects against influenza for the flu season." "During what month and year did you receive your most recent flu nasal spray?" Additional information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm.
Disclaimer All MMWR HTML versions of articles are electronic conversions from ASCII text into HTML. This conversion may have resulted in character translation or format errors in the HTML version. Users should not rely on this HTML document, but are referred to the electronic PDF version and/or the original MMWR paper copy for the official text, figures, and tables. An original paper copy of this issue can be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, DC 20402-9371; telephone: (202) 512-1800. Contact GPO for current prices. **Questions or messages regarding errors in formatting should be addressed to mmwrq@cdc.gov.Date last reviewed: 11/20/2007 |
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