[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 13, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E28]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF FAMILIES FLU VACCINATION DAY AND FAMILIES FIGHTING 
                                  FLU

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 13, 2010

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, today I rise in recognition of 
Families Flu Vaccination Day and Families Fighting Flu. Influenza is a 
serious disease that kills nearly 100 children younger than five years 
of age every year in the United States. In fact, more children die from 
the flu than from chicken pox, whooping cough, and measles combined. 
The flu is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory 
tract. With the recent development of H1N1, a deadlier strain of the 
flu, it is more important now than ever to vaccinate our children and 
educate the American public. Indeed, more than 240 children in the 
United States have died from the H1N1 virus.
  I commend the efforts of Families Fighting Flu, a non-profit, 
volunteer-based organization of families who have experienced firsthand 
the death of a child or have had a child experience severe medical 
complications from seasonal or H1N1 influenza. Families Fighting Flu 
and its medical advisors are dedicated to educating people about the 
severity of influenza and the importance of vaccinating children 
against the flu every year. The members of Families Fighting Flu have 
suffered terrible personal losses as result of the virus. We are 
grateful that they are sharing their personal tragedies so that others 
will not have to suffer such loss. Influenza is unpredictable, but we 
know that the more people who are vaccinated, the less likely the 
disease will spread.
  Every year in the United States more than 20,000 children under the 
age of five are hospitalized due to influenza. Additionally, children 
are two-to-three times more likely than adults to get sick with the flu 
because of their less developed immune systems. Because the flu vaccine 
is typically 60 to 90 percent effective when administered to children, 
getting an annual flu vaccination is an easy way to help stop the 
spread of the virus.
  This week is National Influenza Vaccination Week, a national 
observance that was established to highlight the importance of 
continuing influenza vaccination, as well as foster greater use of the 
flu vaccine after the holiday season into January and beyond. The 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all children 
6 months through 18 years of age get vaccinated against the flu every 
year. In addition, the CDC recommends that all contacts and caregivers 
of children from birth to age five should be vaccinated.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to 
Families Fighting Flu. This non-profit organization is determined to 
help prevent the tragedy of losing another child by encouraging annual 
flu vaccinations for all children. I look forward to working with my 
colleagues to support Families Flu Vaccination Day and make influenza 
immunization for children a national health priority.

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