Fight the Flu!

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have launched a campaign to increase awareness about flu vaccinations for low-income Medicare recipients. Older adults are at higher risk for severe flu illness and complications, but they often face barriers to accessing preventive health services, including the annual flu vaccination. CMS has compiled educational resources for consumers, providers, and advocates including customizable postcards, brochures, posters, and toolkits. There are postcards and posters available in many languages, including: Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Burmese, Cambodian, Chinese, Dzongkha, English, Farsi, Hmong, Karen, Kirundi, Korean, Japanese, Nepali, Oromo, Polish, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. All of these materials are available on the CalDuals website. We encourage you to use these materials to raise awareness and promote education this flu season through your existing educational and regular communications. On December 5, you can join CMS on social media to promote flu vaccinations using the hashtags #FightFlu! To encourage vaccination and emphasize the seriousness of flu, CMS is coordinating social media education and outreach with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during National Influenza Vaccination Week December 2-8.