Flu seasons are unpredictable

The severity of influenza seasons can differ substantially from year to year. Yearly flu-associated deaths in the U.S. over the past 30 years range from 3,000 to 49,000 people. Up to 20 percent of the population can be infected with the flu and more than 200,000 people may be hospitalized during a flu season. The 2009 H1N1 pandemic is an example of how unpredictable flu can be.

You can infect others without symptoms!

Recent research suggests that flu can be passed on 24 hours before any symptoms occur. Also, some people can be infected with the flu virus and have no symptoms at all or only respiratory symptoms without fever but still spread the virus to others.

Healthcare staff vaccination – a patient safety imperative


Flu can spread rapidly in healthcare settings and vaccination of healthcare staff has been shown to reduce flu infection and absenteeism among staff, prevent mortality in their patients and result in financial savings to sponsoring health institutions. We are working hard to make sure that as many of our staff, physicians and volunteers as possible receive their vaccinations.

More than half of Americans were not vaccinated

Flu vaccination is recommended by the CDC for everyone older than 6 months and for people who care for children too young to get the flu vaccine, but at high risk of serious flu illness. Sadly, only half (43 percent) of Americans were vaccinated last flu season (2011-2012). This year’s flu vaccine will protect against three viruses expected to be most common this season, two influenza A viruses (H1N1 and H3N2) and an influenza B virus.

Protect yourself, your family and your associates

It’s time to get your flu vaccination now.