Americans with diabetes may have impaired immune function that can lead to Influenza vaccination is safe and effective in persons with diabetes. …
The below template article can be customized for inclusion in your
organizations membership newsletter/journal to help further educate your
members and constituents about NFIDs Improving Influenza Vaccination Rates
in Adults and Children with Diabetes Initiative and available resources
ANNUAL INFLUENZA VACCINATION CRITICAL TO PROTECTING PEOPLE with diabetes
AND PREVENTING COMPLICATIONS
Resources Now Available in Time for the 2007-2008 Season
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases NFID has developed ready-
to-use resources as part of a comprehensive initiative to help increase
dangerously low influenza vaccination rates among people with diabetes,
which affects more than 20 million people in the US alone
Alarmingly, only about half of all patients with diabetes are immunized
against influenza each year [INSERT ORGANIZATION] encourages you to begin
using these materials and resources to help target this at-risk population
[INSERT BRIEF PARAGRAPH ON ORGANIZATIONS DIABETES EDUCATION/INFLUENZA
IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS PROGRAMMING AS APPROPRIATE]
Vaccination is the best way to protect patients with diabetes against this
serious virus
and NFIDs initiative is an important step in helping health
care providers increase awareness about the importance of annual influenza
immunization, said [INSERT ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVES NAME, TITLE]
[INSERT ORGANIZATION] encourages members to use these materials in time
for the upcoming influenza season to help educate patients and improve
influenza vaccination rates in this high-risk group
Visit NFIDs Web site wwwnfidorg to access these resources
Influenza and People with Diabetes
Influenza is a serious and potentially deadly respiratory infection that
spreads from person to person and infects up to 60 million Americans
annually The virus is responsible for more than 200,000 hospitalizations
and an average of 36,000 deaths each year Diabetes has a prevalence of
about seven percent; one-third of these individuals are unaware of their
condition
Americans with diabetes may have impaired immune function that can lead to
morbidity and mortality from influenza infection Influenza may also
interfere with blood glucose management, putting those with diabetes at
increased risk of high glucose levels and those with type 1 diabetes, in
particular, at an increased risk of diabetic
coma
Influenza vaccination is safe and effective in persons with diabetes
Studies have found more than 70 percent reduction in hospitalizations and
death among adults with diabetes receiving an influenza vaccination In
addition, research has shown influenza vaccination associated with a nearly
80 percent decrease in hospital admissions among children and adults with
diabetes Many health care professionals care for persons with diabetes
and all can play a role in protecting them from influenza each year
NFIDs Improving Influenza Vaccination Rates in Adults and Children with
Diabetes initiative is made possible by an unrestricted educational grant
to NFID from sanofi pasteur
Source:yourathomevet.com
