Welcome to the "Talk Flu To Me" Web site!

More than 200 million people in the U.S. should be vaccinated against influenza, also known as "the flu," according to public health officials. Chances are, you are one of them or you know someone who is. If so, this Web site is talking to you!

Influenza and its complications will hospitalize more than 200,000 and kill as many as 36,000 Americans this year. It's that serious. But the good news is that influenza is preventable through vaccination and more doses of influenza vaccine are expected to be produced this influenza season than ever before.

While influenza season typically peaks in February — and sometimes as late as May — vaccination rates usually drop off after Thanksgiving, leaving many Americans unprotected against this serious disease.

The influenza vaccine is safe and effective, and is the best way to protect against the disease. With the vaccine readily available, you should get vaccinated to protect yourself and those around you. And vaccination throughout the fall and winter months, and even into spring, is beneficial.

This Web site, created by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), offers a "one-stop shop" for comprehensive resources on influenza. The site provides valuable information about influenza to help you determine if you or someone you know is one of the millions of Americans who should be vaccinated.

Please take the time to learn about the risks of influenza and the benefits of immunization — for you and those you love. It's time we all started talking to each other about the seriousness of seasonal influenza.

Sincerely,
Susan J. Rehm, MD
Medical Director, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases