Flu Prevention
When to Bring Your Child Into the Emergency Room for Flu
Flu season can be a challenging time for parents. While flu viruses are fairly common, it can take a severe turn in children. Knowing when to bring your child to the emergency room for the flu can make a difference between recovery and death. At Families Fighting Flu, our mission is to educate families about…
Read MoreHow Serious is Flu for Adults Over 65?
The flu is a common but often underestimated illness that poses a significant threat to the health and well-being of adults over the age of 65. Below, we explore just how serious the flu can be for seniors and discuss the critical role of the flu vaccine in preventing its potentially severe consequences. Understanding Senior…
Read MoreSurvivor’s Story: Layla Richman
Last fall, Layla Richman’s family was doing what many families do as the weather cools: Getting deep into the routine of a new school year, taking advantage of cool weather to spend more time outdoors, and planning out Halloween costumes. But by the time Halloween came around, 3-year-old Layla had become unusually lethargic. She developed…
Read More7 Reasons Fall is When Families Should Get Their Flu Shots
Cayden was a healthy, bubbly, talkative 3 1/2-year-old who loved the color pink when she was taken to the hospital in early December 2014 sick with a fever, nausea and excessive mucus. Her family took her to the doctor twice but her condition didn’t improve. Finally, on December 5, she stopped breathing while napping and…
Read MoreHow to Keep Kids Healthy This Back-to-School Season
As the back-to-school season approaches, we know that parents are not only preparing their kids for new classrooms but are also thinking about the health and well-being of their children. The flu is an ongoing concern, but the beginning of a new school year is a great time to take proactive steps to ensure that…
Read MoreHow the COVID-19 Pandemic Impacted Flu
While flu is only one, many other infectious diseases are preventable, thanks to the power of vaccines! In this series, we’ll take you through the know-how on viruses and vaccines so you have all the factual information you need to protect yourself, your family, and your community. As we head into the 2023-2024 school year,…
Read MoreFlu Season 2022 – 2023 In Review
2022-2023 was a flu season like no other. We saw an earlier start to the flu season, higher than usual pediatric hospitalizations and mortality rates, and a ‘tripledemic’ with multiple respiratory viruses circulating. As we experienced challenges, this highlighted the continued importance of fighting the flu and getting an annual flu vaccine. Let’s look at…
Read MoreRemoving Flu Vaccine Barriers for Ethnic Minority Groups
A recent CDC report showed that flu hospitalization rates were nearly 80 percent higher among Black adults than White adults from 2009–2022. The flu is highly contagious, even deadly, for anyone – regardless of age, race, or health status, and the flu vaccination is the best way to protect against the flu. But the reality…
Read MoreThe History of the Flu Vaccine
The flu vaccine is safe and has been around for decades. In fact, did you know it dates back to the 1940s and has continued to evolve with medicine over the years? As the vaccine continues to improve, all vaccine ingredients are tested for safety before they are manufactured meaning each vaccine is extremely safe.…
Read MoreCelebrating Black Health Heroes Fighting Flu
Keith C. Ferdinand, MD This flu season, the National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention hosted the Million Hearts® Stakeholders Flu Vaccination Campaign. This campaign supported flu education, offering resources to educate communities on the importance of receiving an annual flu vaccine. Part of the resources included PSAs from their spokespeople. One of the…
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