viernes, 2 de diciembre de 2011

Announcement: National Influenza Vaccination Week — December 4–10, 2011

Weekly
December 2, 2011 / 60(47);1624

National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is a national observance established to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination and to foster greater use of influenza vaccine through the holiday season into January and beyond. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, and other partners are conducting related activities during NIVW (December 4–10, 2011).
Approximately 128 million doses of influenza vaccine had been delivered in the United States as of mid-November (2). During NIVW, CDC will highlight the importance of preventing influenza by vaccination. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends influenza vaccination for all persons aged ≥6 months (1). However, certain groups are at higher risk for influenza-related complications. These high-risk groups include children aged <5 years, but especially children aged <2 years; persons with certain chronic health conditions, such as heart disease, asthma, and diabetes (types 1 and 2); pregnant women; and adults aged ≥65 years. Children aged 6 months–8 years who did not receive at least 1 dose of the 2010–11 influenza vaccine will need 2 doses this season to be fully protected.
Posters, educational materials, and web tools for NIVW are available at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources/ and http://www.cdc.gov/flu/nivw/index.htm. Additional influenza information for health-care professionals and patients is available at http://www.cdc.gov/flu and http://www.flu.gov

. Information about NIVW partnership opportunities is available by e-mail (fluinbox@cdc.gov). Influenza vaccination coverage estimates are available at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/vaccinecoverage.htm.