American Lung Association to raise awareness about the seriousness of seasonal influenza

In the spirit of "healthy competition," the American Lung Association in Minnesota is teaming up with the Minneapolis and St. Paul Fire Departments to raise awareness about the seriousness of seasonal influenza and the importance of vaccination this year.

Minneapolis Fire Chief Alex Jackson and St. Paul Fire Chief Tim Butler will initiate an influenza vaccination "challenge" to get as many employees and firefighters immunized against seasonal influenza in their respective fire departments. The challenge will begin on October 13 during the first day of the St. Paul Fire Department vaccination clinic.

This "healthy competition" is conducted on behalf of the American Lung Association Faces of Influenza campaign, a multiyear public awareness initiative helping Americans put a "face" on this serious disease and recognize annual influenza immunization as an important preventive measure to protect themselves and their loved ones every year.

Health experts recommend annual influenza vaccination for nearly 250 million people in the U.S. Despite this recommendation, influenza immunization rates fall far short every year. Locally, between 32,000 to 129,000 Minneapolis/St. Paul area residents will suffer from influenza in an average year.

Minneapolis/St. Paul's local "face" of influenza and mother of two, Linda DeLude, knows first hand how serious influenza can be. Linda's husband, 44-year-old firefighter Barry DeLude, contracted influenza and sadly, he passed away from complications of the disease in February 2007. Linda continues to urge Minneapolis/St. Paul area residents to see themselves among the "faces" featured in the program and to get immunized.

"Barry was always healthy. We didn't think to get him or the rest of the family vaccinated against influenza because no one had chronic illnesses," Linda said. "I had to learn the hard way that influenza can affect anyone - not just people who are already sick. Since Barry's death, I want to do everything I can to let others know how important it is to get vaccinated."

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

These "faces" include people who fall into one or more of the high-risk groups recommended for annual immunization by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Influenza, along with its complications, is a serious respiratory illness. On average, 36,000 Americans die and about 226,000 people are hospitalized in the U.S. every year. Vaccination is a safe and effective way to prevent influenza and its complications.