Some people just shouldn’t be allowed to use e-mail…
Don’t you think she would have noticed she didn’t input the state name and such. Plus, it loses a lot of credibility when one implies this has affected all.
Dear Tim,
Last year, influenza or “the flu” hit (insert state name) especially hard. (State name) reported widespread influenza activity as late as April.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against the flu.
Please share the following matte article with your readers to let them know there’s still plenty of time to get the flu vaccine.
If you run this article, let us know! Please send me an e-mail at mdupre@aed.org.
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Holidays are Over, but Flu Season Isn’t
It’s Not Too Late for the Flu Vaccine
The holiday season is over. You’ve eaten your turkey, exchanged gifts, made your New Year’s resolutions – and perhaps broken some. But have you gotten your flu vaccine?
Last year, influenza activity didn’t peak until mid-February. While flu outbreaks can happen as early as October, most flu seasons do not peak until January, February or later. So even if you were too busy to get vaccinated this fall, act now. There is still time to protect yourself from this contagious and serious disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against the flu.
“People who do not get the flu vaccine are taking two risks: they are placing themselves at risk for the flu, including a potentially long and serious illness, and second, if they get sick, they are also placing their close contacts at risk for influenza,” says Dr. Anne Schuchat, Assistant Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service and CDC’s Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “This can be especially serious for babies, young children, pregnant women, and people 65 and older, who are at high risk of serious flu-related complications or death. Influenza is not a disease to be taken lightly.”
On average, five to 20 percent of the United States population gets the flu each season. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications and about 36,000 people die from flu each year. With an all-time high supply of vaccine available this year, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t protect yourself and your loved ones against this unpleasant and sometimes fatal illness.
The flu vaccine is safe and effective, and cannot cause the flu. Since flu viruses change every year, the flu vaccine is updated annually, making it necessary to be vaccinated each year. It takes two weeks after getting the flu vaccine to develop antibody protection against the flu. People with a severe allergy to eggs should consult their physician before getting vaccinated.
The holiday season may be over, but the flu season is just beginning. Get vaccinated as soon as possible.
To find out where to get a vaccine, contact your doctor or local health department. To learn more, call CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO or visit .
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