PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Donna Grande
Visiting Nurse Associations of America
202.384.1429
dgrande@vnaa.org

VNAA Promotes National Influenza Vaccination Week - December 8-14, 2008

FLU SEASON CONTINUES - SO SHOULD VACCINATIONS

WASHINGTON, DC - December 8, 2008 - The Visiting Nurse Associations of America (VNAA) and over 30 member agencies across the country are working hard to raise awareness about the seriousness of influenza, the importance of flu vaccinations and offering flu clinics to communities nationwide this week as part of National Influenza Vaccination Week.

"The VNAA is excited to promote National Influenza Vaccination Week," stated Andy Carter, President and CEO of the VNAA. "Over 30 Visiting Nurse Agencies (VNAs) are providing flu vaccine to communities across the country in support of Flu Vaccine Week and throughout the winter months. VNAs are the premiere providers of influenza vaccine across the country and have been providing community-based healthcare for over a century," Carter added.

National Influenza Vaccination Week is designed to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination and to encourage greater use of flu vaccine through the winter months. Each year, on average, more than 200,000 are hospitalized and nearly 36,000 die in the U.S. from serious flu-related complications. The flu vaccination is the single, most effective way of preventing serious disease.

VNAs across the country have been offering flu clinics since September and most recently completed a national media tour to promote the need for children to get immunized-Say "BOO!" to the Flu campaign (www.sayboototheflu.com) was sponsored by the Clorox company in partnership with the VNAA and Families Fighting Flu and immunized over 7,000 children in the month of October.

"Visiting Nurse Agencies offer many community-based healthcare services, and the flu vaccination clinics are the largest collective public health service offered by all VNAs," added Carter.

VNAA member agencies offering flu clinics this week include: Central Coast VNA (CA), Sutter VNA (CA), Northwest Colorado VNA (CO), VNA Corporation of Colorado (CO), Danbury VNA (CT), New Milford VNA (CT), Ridgefield VNA (CT), VNA of Central Connecticut (CT), VNA Community Healthcare (CT), VNA East, Inc. (CT), VNA HealthCare and Health Resources (CT), VNA Northwest, Inc. (CT), MedStar VNA (DC), VNA of SW Florida (FL), VNA of Fox Valley (IL), Visiting Nurse Association (IN), VNA of Johnson County (IA), Waterloo VNA (IA), VNA of Omaha and Council Bluffs (NE/IA), HomeHealth Visiting Nurses of S. Maine (ME), Borgess VNA (MI), Mercy Health Partners VNS and Hospice (MI), VNA of Southeast Michigan (MI), Visiting Nurse Special Services/Covenant VNA (MI), Minnesota VNA (MN), VNA of St. Louis (MO), Lake Sunapee Region VNA and Hospice (NH), Newfound Area Nursing Association (NH), VNA of WNY, Inc. (NY), Berks VNA (PA), VNA Care of New England (RI), INOVA VNA (VA), Instructive VNA (VA), Rutland Area VNA (VT), Aurora VNA (WI), Home Health United VNA (WI), and Kenosha VNA (WI).

For more information on the VNAA go to www.vnaa.org.

About VNAA: The VNAA is the official national association for nonprofit, community-based Visiting Nurse Agencies (VNAs) and nonprofit home health providers, who care for and treat approximately 4 million patients each year. The nation's VNAs share a nonprofit mission to provide cost-effective and compassionate home healthcare to some of the nation's most vulnerable individuals, particularly the elderly and individuals with disabilities.