Fight The Flu: Make A Date to Vaccinate

HONOLULU - Governor Lingle and the Hawaii State Department of Health kicked off the "Fight the Flu: Make a Date to Vaccinate" campaign today during a press conference at the Hawaii Seniors' Fair - The Good Life Expo. at the Blaisdell at 9 a.m. today. More than 8,000 persons are expected to get their flu shot over the next three days at this fair.

Flu, or (Influenza) , is a serious disease of th lungsthat is easily transmitted to and by people who are not immunized. It can make you sick for a week or longer with coughing, fever, aching, and more. And it can lead to pneumonia. Almost everyone will benefit from flu vaccine, but some people have a greater need. More than 8,000 persons are expected to get their flu shot over the next three days at the Senior Fair. Most people are sick for only a few days, but some people are in danger of being hospitalized or even dying from the flu. In fact, Over over 114,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 people die each year in the United States from the flu. Even if you are in good health and are active, if you are at high risk of having severe complications from the flu, or if you are in close contact with someone at high risk, you should get the flu vaccine.

Those at high risk include:

• Those People 65 years or older.
• People with chronic (on-going) or long-term health problems like diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, or asthma, cancer or HIV/AIDS.
• Women who are at least 3 months pregnant during the flu season .
• Infants aged 6 to 23 months.

For more information about the flu shot, visit the Hawaii Immunization Program website at www.vaxhawaii.com. Fight the Flu: Make a Date to Vaccinate.

Persons who If you do not have a doctor and/or are uninsured and wish to locate a flu shot clinic in their your neighborhood, should call 2-1-1.

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For more information, contact:

Judy Strait-Jones
Public Health Educator, Immunization Branch
Phone: (808) 586-8321
E-mail: Judy.Strait-Jones@mail.health.state.hi.us

Laura M. Lott
Communications Office
Information Specialist
Phone: (808) 586-4418
E-mail: lmlott@mail.health.state.hi.us