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ATKINS, ARKANSAS -- An Arkansas teenager was close to losing his life all because of the flu. Doctors say lightning never strikes twice, but what about the flu?  To put the seriousness of the flu in perspective, 17 children in the U.S. were killed by lightning between 2008 and 2010.  During that same timeframe, flu claimed the lives of 570 U.S. children.  In fact, in less than 10 years, flu went from the 65th to the 10th most common reason why children were hospitalized.  And while the risks of lightning are universally understood, some parents still don’t realize the seriousness of the flu.   

Thankfully, the flu is just as preventable as it is serious—and prevention begins with vaccination.  Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, marks the beginning of the sixth annual National Influenza Vaccination Week, an observance established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to promote the importance of flu vaccination as the single best preventative measure against this disease. 

Members of the national non-profit organization, Families Fighting Flu (FFF) understand this fact all too well.  Each member has had a child either suffer serious medical complications or die due to the flu.  In support of the CDC’s efforts, and to help raise awareness about the seriousness of the disease, FFF recently released a new public service announcement (PSA) to share the story of one of its members.  At the age of 15, Luke Duvall was hospitalized for 34 days, including nearly two weeks in a medically-induced coma, after contracting the flu.  The Atkins, Arkansas teen and his family are reaching out to help others understand that flu can have significant physical, emotional and financial consequences—all of which can be prevented through annual flu vaccination.   

Help remind your audience that it is not too late in the season to get vaccinated against the flu!