Media Advisory

Telebriefing on U.S. Influenza Activity and Vaccination Rates for Current Season

What

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will host a telephone-only media briefing Monday, December 3, to provide mid-season figures on U.S. influenza activity and vaccination rates and to announce this season's National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW). This year, NIVW will be observed December 2-8.  National Influenza Vaccination Week was established in 2005 to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination in December and beyond.

An annual flu vaccination is recommended for everyone six months of age and older as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. Following the media briefing, CDC will provide more information about NIVW and reports with mid-season vaccination coverage on their websites: www.cdc.gov/flu  and www.flu.gov.

Who

Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (tentative)

Melinda Wharton, M.D., Acting Director, CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

When

Monday, December 3, 2012 at Noon E.T.

Dial-In

*Please dial in 10 to 15 minutes before the start of the press conference.

Media: 888-795-0855
Non Media: 888-982-7417
International: 1-630-395-0149
Passcode: CDC Media

Important Instructions
If you would like to ask a question during the call, press *1 on your touchtone phone. Press *2 to withdraw your question. You may queue up at any time. You will hear a tone to indicate your question is pending.

TRANSCRIPT
A transcript of this media availability will be available following the briefing at the CDC web site at www.cdc.gov/media.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES