American Lung Association Supports Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Influenza Vaccination Week

(January 11, 2010)—

The American Lung Association supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Influenza Vaccination Week, January 10-16, 2010, which highlights the importance of annual influenza vaccination after the holiday season into January and beyond.

The H1N1 Influenza virus outbreak is a strong reminder that influenza is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease. Each year approximately 226,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 die due to seasonal influenza and its related complications. Despite recommendations by national health experts that more than four out of five Americans should be vaccinated against influenza annually, fewer than half actually are.

Also raising awareness about the seriousness of influenza is the American Lung Association's Faces of Influenza campaign. The program is designed to help Americans see themselves among the many "faces" of influenza – people who fall into one or more target groups recommended for annual vaccination by the CDC – and recognize immunization as a safe and effective way to protect themselves and their families against influenza. 

Seasonal influenza can peak as late as February or March, and with the H1N1 influenza virus continuing to circulate across the United States, vaccination against both viruses is recommended and beneficial throughout the winter months.

The American Lung Association urges you to find out if you are a "face" of influenza. For more information on influenza, vaccination and the Faces of Influenza initiative, visit www.facesofinfluenza.org.