To the Editor:

The holiday season has arrived, but so, too, has a less welcome time of year: flu season.

Every year, on average, flu strikes up to 20 percent of the population nationwide, leading to hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations.

Flu seasons are unpredictable and can be severe.

Last season there were 55,509 cases of flu in Pennsylvania, and 221 people died as a result.

We at the Department of Health believe it is critical to boost the number of Pennsylvanians who are vaccinated and thus dramatically reduce the numbers of those infected.

We have launched a public awareness campaign, “Stopping the Flu Starts with YOU,” to send a strong message about the importance of annual flu vaccines and to provide additional tips for prevention.

Too often healthy individuals don’t think they need a flu vaccine because “they are healthy.”

However many people can develop serious, sometimes fatal complications from flu, including infants, children and adults with compromised immune systems, those with chronic conditions such as asthma or heart disease, and anyone over 65.

The higher the number of people immunized the lower the possibility that people in high risk groups will develop the flu.

Our recent statewide clinics for eligible residents have provided vaccines to 669 adults and children and more were scheduled in December.

We will hold additional flu clinics at the Pennsylvania Farm Show next month and are open to all while supplies last.

We need everyone immunized in order to stop the spread of flu and mitigate the chance of vulnerable individuals contracting this dangerous illness.

Visit our website flufreepa.com for more information.

Karen Murphy, PhD, RN,

secretary

Pa. Department

of Health