Urgent new call for flu vaccination

[JimO]

Urgent new call for flu vaccination
By MEGAN SEMERAZ
Megan.Semeraz@oakpress.com; Twitter: @MeganSemerazPosted: 01/03/13 08:04 am

Oakland County residents are being urged to get flu vaccinations following the influenza-related deaths of five Michiganians in recent weeks.

One child was a 6-month-old from Southwest Michigan and the second was a 13-year-old from Central Michigan. According to The Associated Press, a third child has also died.

The state says it?s also been notified of at least two deaths of adults with flu-related illnesses, AP reports. The Michigan Department of Community Health is not required to report such deaths.

MDCH recommends everyone older than 6 months get a flu vaccine. The best way to keep infants from contracting flu is to vaccinate the people around them.

Nationally, this year there have been eight pediatric influenza-related deaths.

Angela Minicuci, public information officer at the MDCH, said that pediatric death from influenza is rare, but it does happen.

http://www.dailytribune.com/article/20130103/NEWS01/130109864/urgent-new-call-for-flu-vaccination

 

[JimO]

Re: Urgent new call for flu vaccination

http://www.tctimes.com/news/flu-sea...cle_57b3e354-56af-11e2-9c90-001a4bcf887a.html

Flu season is at its peak

The recent death of 44-year-old Kirk Beauchamp of Fenton from a flu virus has raised many questions about the dangers of influenza and the importance of prevention.

?It?s always of great concern when something like this hits so close to home in your own community,? said Mark Valacak, M.P.H., of the Genesee County Health Department. ?What we know is that the flu can cause death.?

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