The Flu Is Not A Cold

American Lung Association in New York

This year, it seems that there is a bigger “to-do” about the flu because of the outbreak of the Swine Flu, or H1N1.  Parents are trying to figure out if they should vaccinate their kids, get the seasonal or H1N1 vaccines or both and if they decide to do it, right now the question is WHERE exactly to find the vaccines.  Because the H1N1 broke out later into the season, there wasn’t a lot of time to get the vaccine ready, which is resulting in the shortage that we now see.

The following is from a recent newsletter sent out by the American Lung Association.

Seasonal influenza remains a serious concern this flu season, even with the presence of the 2009 H1N1 virus. Seasonal flu hospitalizes more than a quarter of a million people each year, and is responsible for an average of 36,000 deaths nationwide.

The flu is not a cold. It’s a serious disease. Annual vaccination against seasonal influenza is recommended for more than 80 percent of the U.S. population. It is especially important for those in high-risk groups, including children six months to 18 years of age, adults over 50 years of age, pregnant women, anyone with chronic health conditions and caregivers and household contacts of these high-risk groups.

Flu season lasts from fall through early spring. There’s plenty of time for you and your family to get vaccinated, but we urge you to do it as soon as possible. It’s also important to have all the facts. At Faces of Influenza, you can learn more about the flu, get the latest medical information and read personal stories of people whose lives have been affected by this disease.

Kristi Yamaguchi, Olympic Gold Medalist, winner of “Dancing with the Stars” and mother of two, is the national spokesperson for Faces of Influenza. She and many others are urging everyone in the U.S. to get immunized. The American Lung Association offers a quick and easy way to find the flu vaccine at www.flucliniclocator.org by just typing in your zip code.