Vote and Vaccinate 2006Most adults realize that immunizations play an important role in keeping infants and children healthy. Many are unaware that readily available vaccines offer a safe and cost-effective way of to prevent serious illness and death among adults. Despite the many advances in modern medicine, each year in the United States, up to 60,000 adults die from vaccine-preventable diseases or their complications. Pneumonia and influenza together are the seventh leading causes of death in the U.S., and the fifth leading cause of death among older adults. People with chronic illness such as lung, heart or kidney disease, diabetes and those 65 or older are most at risk. Because pneumonia is a common complication of the flu, getting both a seasonal flu shot and a one-time pneumonia shot is good preventative medicine. The Florida Department of Health (DOH) is partnering with the Florida Board of Elections, and individual counties and county Supervisors of Elections to implement a "Vote and Vaccinate" campaign to be held in conjunction with the November general election. The objective of this campaign is to target adults for voluntary influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations at the time they visit their polling place (two services in one location). By facilitating the immunizations in settings already designed for accessibility, this program can make an important contribution to community health. Of the roughly 100 million Americans who will vote in November elections, about half are 50 or older. This is exactly the age group for which flu shots are recommended. County Public Health agencies who choose to participate will arrange to have an onsite immunization clinic available at select precincts during the General Election, providing flu shots. Terry L. Vaughan, president of The Florida State Association of
Supervisors of Elections, has released a
letter conveying their support |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
