Coming Together to Take Action: Protect Families from Influenza

Families Flu Vaccination Day Observed Nationwide January 13th CIIC Tools Available

As part of National Influenza Vaccination Week, January 13th has been designated as Families Flu Vaccination Day. Once again, The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases’ (NFID) Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition (CIIC) is proud to support educational and awareness efforts associated with this special day when government, public health officials and the immunization community come together to encourage families to protect their children against a disease that continues to claim far too many young lives annually.

Though influenza is always unpredictable, the H1N1 pandemic made this past year a case in point.  Attention surrounding H1N1 served to increase public interest in influenza immunization. With the influenza “iron” still hot, the time is ripe for those of us in the medical and public health communities to promote our vaccination messages. We can join forces to:

• Ensure flu continues to be recognized as a health threat: In recent weeks, the CDC has been reporting declines in influenza activity. However, additional waves of influenza may still occur throughout winter and even into spring, caused either by H1N1 or seasonal flu viruses.
• Promote vaccination through the winter and spring: CDC data indicate that influenza vaccination rates traditionally drop considerably after Thanksgiving, as few Americans seek vaccination during winter months. Yet, seasonal flu viruses typically circulate well into spring, making vaccination viable well into the new year.
• Dispel still-prevalent myths: CIIC’s own recent research on parent attitudes indicates that despite high flu awareness and overall increases in intention to get their children vaccinated, some parents continue to hold onto influenza misconceptions that cause them to opt against vaccination.
• Empower parents to choose to protect their family’s health: CIIC research also revealed that parents appreciate the ability to make important health choices for their family, but value recommendations by pediatricians and health care professionals. It’s therefore important for those of us in the medical and public health communities to take every opportunity to discuss influenza vaccination and help parents choose the most effective means of preventing their family from a disease that continues to claims the lives of nearly 100 children and hospitalize approximately 20,000 every year.

In observance of this day, we encourage you to use consult the following resources and do your part to help promote influenza vaccination for children:

• NFID’s English and Spanish pediatric-influenza Web sites host an abundance of materials, including fact sheets, 10 reasons to get vaccinated, funny videos, multilingual materials and an influenza commitment statement. 
• Visit www.PreventChildhoodInfluenza.org for more information.

Many thanks for your continued support.

Carol J. Baker, MD

The Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition (CIIC) was established by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) to protect infants, children and adolescents from influenza by communicating with “one strong voice” the need to make influenza immunization a national health priority. Members represent 30 of the nation’s leading public health, medical, patient and parent groups committed to protecting children’s health and encouraging wellness.

The Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition initiatives are made possible through an unrestricted educational grant to NFID from sanofi pasteur.

For more information, please e-mail CIIC@NFID.org.