January 10-16 is National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW). NIVW was established to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination, as well as fostering greater use of flu vaccine after the holiday season.

Since 2009 H1N1 disease is likely to continue, NIVW is an important opportunity to maintain or increase the number of people who get the 2009 H1N1 vaccine at a time when demand for vaccine usually drops significantly. Though this has been an unprecedented year in terms of the number of people who have received flu vaccinations, most people still have not gotten the 2009 H1N1 vaccine – there is still room for improvement among every age and risk group. Influenza is unpredictable and we do not know the likelihood of a future wave of 2009 H1N1 influenza, but we do know that vaccination is the single best way to reduce the health impact of influenza.
To learn more about NIVW, visit the NIVW website.