St. Petersburg City Council partners with American Lung Association for "Faces of Influenza" campaign

Mayor Rick Baker and members of St. Petersburg City Council are partnering with the American Lung Association in Florida Gulfcoast area on its Faces of Influenza educational initiative to kick off the 2009-2010 influenza season in Tampa/St. Petersburg.

In support of the initiative, Mayor Baker and other City Council members will designate a portion of the October 8 City Council meeting to receive their annual seasonal influenza vaccinations and discuss the importance of preventing the spread of influenza by getting vaccinated.

The meeting will take place at the City Hall Council Chamber, 175 5th St. N., St. Petersburg, Fla. at 2:00 p.m. Representatives from the American Lung Association in Florida Gulfcoast area and Edward White Hospital will also be in attendance.

"It is the responsibility of every Bay area resident to find out whether they are a 'face' of influenza and are recommended for annual seasonal influenza vaccination," said Mayor Baker. "Many people are affected by seasonal influenza every year and don't realize that getting vaccinated is an easy way to protect their health, their family's health and the health of our community."

The recent A (H1N1) outbreak is a strong reminder that influenza is not the common cold. It's a serious respiratory illness. Each year approximately 226,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 die due to influenza-related complications.

Public health experts, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommend that more than four out of five Americans be vaccinated against seasonal influenza, but fewer than half actually do.

Each year, an estimated 136,000 to 544,000 Tampa/St. Petersburg residents will suffer from seasonal influenza, yet immunization rates fall short each year.

The American Lung Association's Faces of Influenza campaign encourages local residents to see themselves and their loved ones among the many "faces" of influenza - people who fall into one or more target groups recommended for annual vaccination by the CDC.

Chances Are, We All Know "Faces" of Influenza

The Faces of Influenza campaign, which includes expanded awareness initiatives nationally and in many major cities, including Tampa/St. Petersburg, supports the CDC's call for Americans to get vaccinated against seasonal influenza this and every year.

Celebrities, health officials and everyday people have joined the Faces of Influenza campaign, sharing personal stories about their experiences with the disease and encouraging influenza vaccination among recommended groups.

The Lung Association is working with other families across the country who lost loved ones to influenza. These parents, as well as others involved in the program, have joined the Faces of Influenza campaign to help families avoid the tragedies they experienced.

On a national level, Olympic Gold Medalist figure skater, "Dancing with the Stars" winner and mother Kristi Yamaguchi is the spokesperson for the Faces of Influenza campaign. Other celebrity "faces" featured include: actor Dean Cain, who played Superman on ABC's "Lois and Clark;" Dr. Joyce Brothers, well-known psychologist and advice columnist; Joy Behar, comedian and co-host of ABC's "The View;" and Olympic Gold Medalist Vonetta Flowers.