In preparation for flu
season, The COSHAR Foundation urges parents to protect their children
against vaccine-preventable illnesses -- including the flu. The
Foundation's efforts are part of a national immunization awareness
campaign, Protecting our Future: The COSHAR Foundation Immunization
Project, designed to raise awareness of the importance of timely childhood
vaccination, and to ultimately increase vaccine compliance rates among
under-vaccinated children.
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness that can cause mild to
severe illness, and at times, can lead to death. In fact, each year, more
than 200,000 people are hospitalized and about 36,000 people die from flu
complications. The Foundation supports the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention's recommendations, and encourages children aged 6 months to 19
years of age, pregnant women, adults aged 50 years and older and those with
chronic medical conditions to get vaccinated.
"It is important for parents and caregivers to understand the
importance of timely vaccination, as it is the best defense against many
life-threatening childhood diseases," says Sharon Allison-Ottey, M.D.,
Executive Director, The COSHAR Foundation. "With nearly a quarter of
children in the United States missing life-saving vaccines, we encourage
parents and caregivers to contact their healthcare providers to confirm
whether their child has received the age-appropriate recommended vaccines,
as well as to receive advice and information about immunizations."
The Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to health education,
improvement and empowerment with a focus on minority and disadvantaged
populations, announced Protecting our Future in April, during National
Infant Immunization Week. The Foundation has successfully reached parents
and health care providers through its "Immunization Sundays" program that
provides pastors, church officials and parishioners with an immunization
toolkit and religious sermons focusing on the importance of vaccines. The
toolkit includes resources, flyers, information, scriptural references and
recommendations for congregational activities and events.
"Our children's health is top of mind and has always been a priority
for COSHAR's National Health Ministry Network and the community
organizations we support," said Dr. Ottey. "The church has become an avenue
to address health concerns, and Immunization Sundays has proven to be an
effective way to disseminate important vaccination information to parents,
grandparents, and other caregivers. We look forward to continuing to spread
the message of prevention through vaccination. The COSHAR Foundation's
Health Advisory Board asks that members of our network to encourage their
congregations and communities to get the flu vaccine in an effort to
protect themselves and their families."
To date, more than 11,000 toolkits have been distributed and more than
8,200 Immunization Sunday events have been held across the United States.
About The COSHAR Foundation
The COSHAR Foundation is a 501(c )3 organization dedicated to
"Impacting the Health of the World, One Community at a Time." The COSHAR
Foundation's National Health Ministry (NHMN) includes more than 11,000
churches and 200 community organizations throughout the country and
addresses various community health concerns. Protecting our Future: The
COSHAR Foundation Immunization Project is sponsored by a grant to the
Foundation from Wyeth Vaccines.
The COSHAR Foundation
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