National Influenza Vaccination Week: Get Vaccinated

Even healthy people can get the flu, and it can be serious. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine. This season, protect yourself—and those around you—by getting a flu vaccine.

While everyone is recommended to get a flu vaccine, people at high risk of serious flu complications include young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease, and people 65 years and older. Encourage those you know who might be pregnant, have asthma, or type 1 or 2 diabetes to get vaccinated today.

National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is a national observance established to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination now, through the holiday season, and into January and beyond.

From December 5th through 12th, NIVW events and activities around the United States focus on the importance of vaccinating different groups of people, including:

Sunday, December 5	NIVW Kickoff Get vaccinated on Sunday before getting caught up in your weekly schedule.
Monday, December 6	Family Vaccination Day Families are great at sharing—but that’s not a good thing when it comes to the flu. Get everyone in your family vaccinated!
Tuesday, December 7	Chronic Conditions Day If you or your loved ones have asthma, diabetes, or other chronic conditions, a flu shot is especially important.
Wednesday, December 8	Employee Health/Health Care Worker Day Protecting employee health protects everyone at home and in the workplace. Health care workers, you can make a difference.
Thursday, December 9	Older Adults Vaccination Day If you’re 65 or older, you’re at increased risk for complications from flu
Friday, December 10	Young Adults Vaccination Day If you’re 19—24, you can protect yourself, your friends, and your family.
Saturday, December 11	NIVW Wrap-up The week is done, but you can still get a flu vaccine throughout the winter if you didn’t this week.

Community partners are encouraged to share their planning and special events on the NIVW website. You can see what events are planned across the country and in your community. Free resources are available to help you promote influenza vaccination in your community. There are posters, PSAs, matte articles, and other tools for a variety of audiences.

If you’re an employer, you should know that every year the flu costs businesses approximately $10.4 billion in direct costs for hospitalizations and outpatient visits for adults. You can help protect your employees by encouraging vaccination. Learn more from the newbusiness toolkit.

Everyone can fight the flu—vaccination is the most important step. Find out where you can get a flu vaccine near you using the Flu Vaccine Finder.

Also see Key Facts about Influenza (Flu) & Flu Vaccine.

• Page last updated: December 03, 2010
• Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention