Jennifer Garner Kicks Off Influenza Campaign

Jennifer Garner, fresh off her win of Glamour Magazine’s Woman of the Year award, took a break from taking care of daughter Violet so she could take care of America.  She joined actor Dean Cain and leading medical officials in NYC at a press conference to kick off the American Lung Association’s national Faces of Influenza public awareness campaign, urging Americans to get their annual influenza vaccination.

The program is designed to help Americans put a “face” on this serious disease and recognize annual immunization as a safe and effective way to protect themselves and their families against influenza. The American Lung Association also hosted a free influenza immunization clinic, where hundreds of New Yorkers were vaccinated.

“Women play an important role in a family. It’s our job to take care of
those we love, that’s why I make sure my family is protected against
influenza,” said Garner. “Influenza isn’t just a cold. It can be much more
serious. Chances are you or someone you know should be immunized.”

Here are some facts you should know about influenza:

• Each year, more than 226,000 Americans are hospitalized and about 36,000 die from influenza-related complications.
• The injectable vaccine does not contain any of the live virus so it is impossible to get influenza from the vaccine. Side effects may occur in some people.
• Vaccination typically begins in October and can continue through March. In most seasons, influenza virus activity doesn’t peak until February or March.
• Common symptoms of influenza infection include a high fever (101ºF-102ºF) that begins suddenly, sore throat, chills, cough, headache, and muscle aches.
• The CDC recommends annual influenza vaccination for anyone wishing to reduce the risk of this disease or spreading it to others. Other target groups include: adults and children with a chronic medical condition, such as asthma, COPD and diabetes, people 50 years of age and older, pregnant women and children 6-59 months of age,
  residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities, as well as
  household contacts and caregivers which includes health-care providers,
  babysitters and others.
• The CDC recommends annual influenza vaccination for anyone wishing to reduce the risk of this disease or spreading it to others. Other target groups include: adults and children with a chronic medical condition, such as asthma, COPD and diabetes, people 50 years of age and older, pregnant women and children 6-59 months of age,
  residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities, as well as
  household contacts and caregivers which includes health-care providers,
  babysitters and others.
• Common symptoms of influenza infection include a high fever (101ºF-102ºF) that begins suddenly, sore throat, chills, cough, headache, and muscle aches.