New Television Public Service Announcement
Highlights the Dangers of Flu
Mom Shares How the Virus Took Her Baby's
Life
Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008 - DENVER - The
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and The
Children's Hospital has issued a television public service
announcement warning residents about the dangers of
influenza. The announcement, which aired Nov. 10 and will
run through Dec. 31, features a mother whose 6-month-old
died after being infected with the influenza virus in 2003.
Julie Moise, the mother featured in the public service
announcement, said, "Since losing my son, Ian, I have
dedicated my life to warning parents about how dangerous the
flu can be. People often tell me that they do not get sick
much, so they don't need a vaccination. What they're not
understanding is that they can give the flu to their loved
ones even if they don't feel sick themselves. Older people
and babies are especially vulnerable to this disease."
Dr. Christine Nyquist, an infectious disease expert from The
Children's Hospital in Denver, who also is featured in the
announcement, said, "We see so many children each year that
are hospitalized due to influenza. This disease is vaccine
preventable, so it's important that people are vaccinated so
that everyone can be kept safe from the flu."
The public service announcement is sponsored by the Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment and The
Children's Hospital of Denver. An ample
supply of influenza vaccine is allowing more people to be
protected against the flu during the 2008-09 flu season. The
influenza virus, or the flu, is a very contagious
respiratory illness that can lead to serious health
complications and sometimes death. "The
single best way to protect yourself and your family from the
flu is to get the flu vaccine," said Dr. Ned Calonge, the
state's chief medical officer of the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment. "More available vaccine means
more protection for the most vulnerable people in our
communities, such as babies, the elderly and those with
certain health problems."
To better protect the public, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention now is recommending that
all eligible children ages 6 months through 18 years receive
the influenza vaccine. Prior to this season the
recommendation was for ages 6 months to 6 years. Immunizing
more children against the flu better protects the entire
community against an outbreak of flu. By preventing these
children from getting sick, family members also are
protected, as well as the other people these children come
in contact with on a daily basis.
Every year in the United States about 5-20
percent of the population gets the flu, more than 200,000
people are hospitalized from flu complications and about
36,000 people die. Some people, such as older people, young
children and people with certain health conditions, are at
higher risk for serious flu complications. In
addition to the health impact from the flu, the disease also
can carry with it huge financial costs for persons who miss
work due to their illness or the illness of a family member.
According to the CDC, studies show adults receiving flu
vaccine have 27 percent fewer missed workdays due to
illness. Vaccine manufacturers are projecting
that as many as 146 million doses of influenza vaccine will
be available for use in the United States this season. This
is an all-time high supply of vaccine, making it possible
for more people than ever to seek protection from the flu.
The flu season typically peaks in January or February.
People can receive the influenza vaccine now and still have
immunity through the season, which generally ends in March.
For flu vaccine clinic information, visit
http://www.immunizecolorado.com or call 1-877-462-2911.
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