AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES FLU SHOT AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO TARGET PEOPLE WITH ASTHMA, LUNG DISEASE AND THE ELDERLY

Background

Nearly 20.3 million Americans, 6.3 million of them under the age of 18, have asthma. People with asthma are more likely to develop serious complications and die from the flu than those who do not have asthma and hospitalization rates for people with asthma increase two to three-fold during major flu epidemics.

Until recently, experts were concerned that the flu vaccine may worsen or exacerbate current asthma. But research indicates that giving the flu vaccination to every child with asthma means more than 100,000 kids would be spared a trip to the hospital, at a savings of $398 million a year.

More than 36,000 Americans die each year from influenza and related complications. Despite the risks, only 10 percent of children and 39 percent of adults with asthma get vaccinated. According to the American Lung Association, the flu shot is the only approved form of vaccine for people in high-risk groups, including those with asthma and lung disease as well as the elderly. People are advised to "stick with the flu shot" as it is literally their best shot at staying healthy this year.

Soundbites

• Michael S. Niederman, M.D., Chairman, Department of Medicine, Winthrop University Hospital

VIDEO PROVIDED BY: The American Lung Association