NACCP And Families Fighting Flu Team Up To Educate Parents About The Importance Of Annual Flu Vaccination For Children
As the 2007-2008 flu season approaches, the National Association of Child Care Professionals (NACCP), together with Families Fighting Flu (FFF), is launching a nationwide campaign made possible by an educational grant from sanofi pasteur to educate parents about the seriousness of influenza in children and increase influenza vaccination rates in child care centers across the country. The “Fighting Flu in Child Care Settings: Building Blocks to Increase Influenza Awareness” campaign provides child care providers with the tools and materials they need to help educate parents about the importance of annual influenza vaccination in children. From October through the end of March, child care center directors will individually track flu vaccinations for children within their centers, thus encouraging healthy preventative practices starting at a young age, resulting in a healthier child care center environment and, potentially, a healthier community.
“We are so excited to be partnering with Families Fighting Flu for this campaign to help increase childhood influenza vaccination rates across the country,” said Sherry Workman, Executive Director/CEO, NACCP. “As an organization that is dedicated to improving the quality of child care, protecting our children from harmful diseases such as influenza is a high priority.”
Children die every year in the United States from influenza and its complications. In fact, over the past four flu seasons more than 300 children have died from the virus. And more than 20,000 children under the age of 5 are hospitalized due to influenza each year. Since children in child care facilities spend a lot of time interacting with other kids and adults, it’s especially important to teach child care providers and parents about preventive practices to help keep children healthy during flu season.
“Vaccinating children against the flu is the single best way to protect them and their families from the virus,” said Richard Kanowitz, president of Families Fighting Flu. Kanowitz’s four-year-old daughter, Amanda, died suddenly in March 2004 from influenza. “Unfortunately, many parents underestimate the seriousness of the flu. We hope that educating parents about the importance of annual flu vaccination will safeguard them, their families and communities from the dangers of influenza.”
About Influenza
Influenza, or “the flu,” is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract (nose, throat and lungs). The flu virus tends to spread from November to April, with most cases occurring between December and March. The flu is often confused with the common cold, but flu symptoms tend to develop quickly (usually 1 to 4 days after a person is exposed to the flu virus) and are usually more severe than the typical sneezing and congestion associated with a cold. Influenza is often accompanied with fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are also common symptoms in children. A person infected with the flu virus will typically suffer from the illness for approximately 7 to 10 days, with 5 to 6 days of limited activity and about 3 days of bed rest.
Any child older than 6 months old can get vaccinated against influenza. However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all children from 6 months up to age 5 get vaccinated against the flu every year. In addition, children with certain medical conditions, and household contacts (parents, siblings, grandparents, etc.) and out-of-home caregivers of children age 0 up to age 5 should get vaccinated against the flu every year. Children and adults that are household contacts of other high-risk individuals are also recommended to get vaccinated. However, all persons, including school-aged children, who want to reduce the risk of becoming ill with the flu or transmitting it to others, should get vaccinated every year.
About Families Fighting Flu, Inc.
Families Fighting Flu, Inc. (FFF) is a non-profit, volunteer-based corporation established in 2004, that is made up of families and healthcare practitioners who have experienced first-hand the death of a child due to the flu, or have had a child experience severe medical complications from the flu. FFF is dedicated to educating people about the severity of influenza and the importance of vaccinating children against the flu every year. The organization’s efforts are focused on urging the CDC to change the current influenza vaccination recommendations to include all healthy children 18 years old and younger. Through education and advocacy, we hope to improve the rates of annual childhood influenza vaccinations and help reduce the number of childhood illnesses and deaths caused by the flu each year. For more information, visit http://www.familiesfightingflu.org.
About The National Association of Child Care Professionals
The National Association of Child Care Professionals (NACCP) is the nation’s leader among associations serving child care owners, directors, and administrators. NACCP is committed to strengthening the skill level of leaders in the field of early child care and education. The organization’s members believe that effective management is the critical link to superior child care and are striving to improve the quality of early child care and education. For more information, visit http://www.naccp.org.
