Stress importance of vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older, but especially for adults 65+
Mothers across the U.S. are being led by Olympic Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi and her very own mother, Carole Yamaguchi, in a national public awareness campaign solely aimed at increasing alarmingly low influenza immunization rates among families.
Kristi is a long-time advocate for influenza vaccination as part of the American Lung Association’s Faces of Influenza campaign. As a busy mother, fitness enthusiast and New York Times’ best-selling children’s author, she cannot afford to let the flu slow her down, which is why she makes sure to get vaccinated every year. She also makes vaccination for her entire family a priority to help keep them healthy.
This year, Kristi is joined on the campaign by her own mother, Carole, who wants to let older adults like herself know that their age group is at higher risk for developing influenza-related complications and that there are specific vaccination options for them. In fact, people 65 years of age and older have the highest rates of hospitalization and death from influenza and its complications despite having the highest immunization rates in the U.S.
Influenza is a serious respiratory illness that can lead to hospitalization and even death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends annual vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older. Vaccination is safe and effective and is the best way to help prevent influenza.
The American Lung Association’s Faces of Influenza campaign is made possible through a collaboration with Sanofi Pasteur. To learn more, please visit www.facesofinfluenza.org
Kristi and Carole Yamaguchi will discuss their roles as spokespeople for the Faces of Influenza campaign and the importance of annual vaccination for family members of all generations, but especially those 65 years of age and older.
www. facesofinfluenza.org
