Lutheran Disaster Response is encouraging Lutherans to heed the advice of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during “National Influenza Vaccination Week,” Jan. 10-16, to “protect yourself, your family, and your community by getting vaccinated” against the H1N1 influenza virus.
According to information from the department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that between mid-April and Nov. 14, 2009, 47 million people in the United States were infected with the H1N1 flu, more than 200,000 people were hospitalized, and more than 9,800 people died.
“Influenza is unpredictable and we do not know the likelihood of a future wave of H1N1 flu, but we do know that vaccination is the most important step in protecting against influenza,” the department says.
For more information about the H1N1 flu and to find the nearest vaccination clinic, visit the Web site www.flu.gov.
Posted Jan. 13, 2010
