FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, November 23, 2009

CONTACT
Mark Salley
Director, Office of Communications
303-692-2013

Be Flu Smart This Holiday Season

DENVER – As the holidays approach, it is important for people to remember to take precautions to protect themselves from the flu, according to officials at the state health department.

Being flu smart is easy.   Just follow these steps:

* Don’t travel if you’re sick.

* When traveling, bring along small bottles of bacterial lotion or wipes.

* Wash your hands frequently.

* To protect others, cough or sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue.

* Get all the flu vaccinations recommended, especially if you are in one of the high risk categories that includes seniors, infants and people with compromised immune systems.

“Each week, the state continues to receive additional seasonal and 2009 H1N1 vaccine supplies, so flu vaccination opportunities are increasing,” said Chief Medical Officer Ned Calonge of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

“Immunization for both seasonal flu and H1N1 flu still is very important. We have seen 2009 H1N1 hospitalizations drop in Colorado, but the illness still is circulating. In addition, we may well see seasonal flu emerge a later in the flu and cold season, as we do every year.”

People with questions about H1N1 are encouraged to call CO HELP at 1-877-462-2911 or go to http://www.colorado.gov/nofluforyou. For information on flu vaccination clinics, go to http://www.immunizecolorado.com.

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