The Friday Five - National Influenza Vaccination Week

Follow and join the conversation with #NIVW, #FightFlu and #WhyIFightFlu.

Established in 2005 by CDC, National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is a national awareness week focused on highlighting the importance of influenza vaccination. This week’s Friday Five provides information about influenza, populations most at risk and prevention.

Prevent Seasonal Flu
The best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated every year. CDC (@CDCgov) has resources to help answer your questions about the flu vaccine.

#Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.

The best protection against flu is a #fluvaccine. It’s not too late to #fightflu – get vaccinated now. pic.twitter.com/kn4rrwtu39

— CDC (@CDCgov) December 2, 2019

FluView

Check out FluView, a weekly influenza surveillance report prepared by the Influenza Division, to find out the latest information about the virus and its reach.

According to CDC’s latest #FluView, levels of U.S. flu-like-illness have been elevated for 3 weeks now. While the amount flu activity varies across the U.S., it’s important to protect yourself with a flu vaccine before flu starts spreading in your area: https://t.co/bWGEPLl8sN pic.twitter.com/uMBiMF6yPf

— CDC Flu (@CDCFlu) December 4, 2019

People at High Risk For Flu Complications
Most people who get sick with flu will have mild illness, will not need medical care or antiviral drugs and will recover in less than two weeks. Some people, however, are more likely to get flu complications that can result in hospitalization and sometimes death, CDC identifies the groups of people who are more likely to get serious flu-related complications if they get sick with flu.

Flu vaccination helps prevent serious medical events associated with some chronic conditions like #heart and #lungdisease, and #diabetes.

Learn more about people at high risk for #flu complications: https://t.co/vKFJOaugI5 #FightFlu pic.twitter.com/mDJeFDoGjR

— CDC Flu (@CDCFlu) November 4, 2019

Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Children, 2019-2020
The American Academy of Pediatrics (@AmerAcadPeds) recommends that all children ages 6 months and older are vaccinated for influenza for the 2019-2020 season, preferably by the end of October, with either the flu shot or the nasal spray vaccine.

Influenza is common, unpredictable and can cause severe illness and even death. Help #FightFlu and stop the spread of flu by knowing the symptoms and when to keep your child home. More about the flu: https://t.co/m6jh2QPRGq pic.twitter.com/AJT0rGnwqH

— Amer Acad Pediatrics (@AmerAcadPeds) December 4, 2019

CDC Flu Fighters
Every year people around the world work to study, track, and prevent flu. CDC profiles some of these flu fighters and the work they are doing to contribute to flu prevention in the U.S. and around the world!

“I never thought my healthy five-year-old son would die from flu.”

Serese Marotta shares her story to raise awareness about the serious impact #flu can have and explain how #fluvaccine can be life-saving.https://t.co/1C6Js894vV #WhyIFightFlu pic.twitter.com/gzCozmA3y6

— CDC Flu (@CDCFlu) November 27, 2019