Influenza


Providing vaccinations against this threat to public health

Seasonal influenza (often called the flu) is a highly contagious respiratory illness. Frequently mistaken for the common cold or stomach illness, flu is the sixth leading cause of death among American adults. Approximately 226,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 people die annually of the flu in the United States.

Cases of the flu typically start showing up in December and peak around March. The long flu season means it is never too late to get a flu shot; you can get a flu shot as late as April if you have not yet been infected.

Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago offers the Influenza Prevention Program to Chicagoland residents beginning in October each year. In 2008, more than 22,000 people were immunized. The program is offered in conjunction with the Chicago Department of Public Health and the Cook County Department of Public Health.

In addition, Respiratory Health Association delivers cost-effective flu vaccinations to employees at workplaces throughout Chicagoland as part of our Workplace Wellness Program, in which employers with as few as 25 employees may arrange for nurses from Respiratory Health Association to deliver workplace flu vaccinations. Seasonal influenza is responsible for an estimated 70 million workdays missed in the US each year. Increasingly, employers are recognizing the value of offering preventative measures to improve workplace health and productivity.

Respiratory Health Association's Influenza Prevention Program:
  • Educates the public about seasonal flu and novel flu strains such as H1N1.
  • Promotes the importance of getting vaccinated.
  • Offers vaccinations at clinics throughout the metropolitan area.
  • Keeps the community informed of flu outbreaks and steps we can take to protect ourselves, our families and our workplaces from influenza.

To learn more about influenza, see our Understanding Influenza page or the Influenza Library.

To schedule a flu clinic, contact Doreen Minnice:
Email Doreen
(312) 628-0201

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