In Governor's Radio Address, DCH Director Olszewski Says With Flu Season Underway, People Should Get Flu Shots, Take Simple Precautions

September 18, 2009

H1N1 flu shot especially important for certain groups of people

LANSING - With flu season underway, people should get both the seasonal and H1N1 flu shots, with the H1N1 vaccine especially important for certain groups of people, said Janet Olszewski, director of the Michigan Department of Community Health, in delivering this week's radio address on behalf of Governor Jennifer M. Granholm.

"The seasonal flu shot will not protect you from the H1N1 virus," Olszewski said.  "However, it will protect you from the seasonal flu and prevent you from getting sick with both the H1N1 and the seasonal flu."

"Regarding H1N1, we strongly encourage you to get the H1N1 flu shot when it is available in October," Olszewski continued.  "For five groups of people, it's especially important to get the H1N1 flu shot."  Those five groups are:

• pregnant women;
• children and young adults from 6 months up to 24 years old;
• people who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months old;
• people ages 25 through 64 who have medical conditions, like heart disease or diabetes, that elevate their risks for flu-related complications;
• health care and emergency medical services personnel.

Olszewski said simple precautions can help people avoid getting and spreading the flu, such as washing hands often with soap and water, covering the nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and disinfecting household and workplace surfaces.

"Now that flu season is here, be proactive," Olszewski said.  "Get your flu shots, wash your hands frequently and take the other simple precautions.  For more information on flu safety, visit our Web site at michigan.gov/flu and the Centers for Disease Control Web site at cdc.gov/flu."

The governor's weekly radio address is released each Friday morning and may be heard on broadcast stations across the state.  The address is available on the governor's Web site at ( www.michigan.gov/gov ) for download, together with a clip of the quote above.  The radio address is also available as a podcast on the Web site, as well as on iTunes and via RSS feed for general distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers.  Links to the audio files and text of today's address follow.

Michigan Department of Community Health Director Janet Olszewski
Radio Address - Flu

Full:  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov215Full_292599_7.mp3
Edited:  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov215Edit_292600_7.mp3
Quote:  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov215Quote_292603_7.mp3

Hello, this is Janet Olszewski, director of the Michigan Department of Community Health, speaking today on behalf of Governor Jennifer Granholm.

Flu season has begun.  The Department of Community Health has been working closely with federal and state agencies and local health departments to prepare for and respond to a flu pandemic.  But we need your help to minimize the spread of the flu.

What's different about this flu season is that we're facing the H1N1 virus in addition to the typical seasonal flu.  While it's always important to get the seasonal flu shot, it's crucial to get one this year because of H1N1.

The seasonal flu shot will not protect you from the H1N1 virus.  However, it will do three things.

First, it will protect you from the seasonal flu.  Second, it will prevent you from getting sick with both the H1N1 and the seasonal flu.  And finally, the seasonal flu shot will decrease the likelihood of the two flu strains mixing together and mutating.

Call your primary care physician to learn where to get the seasonal flu vaccine.  The vaccine will also be available at your local health department, federally qualified health centers, rural health centers, and some retail pharmacies.

Regarding H1N1, we strongly encourage you to get the H1N1 flu shot when it is available in October.  For five groups of people, it's especially important to get the H1N1 flu shot.  These groups are:

• pregnant women;
• children and young adults from 6 months up to 24 years old;
• people who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months old;
• people ages 25 through 64 who have medical conditions, like heart disease or diabetes, that elevate their risks for flu-related complications;
• health care and emergency medical services personnel.

Also, simple precautions can help you avoid getting and spreading the flu.  Wash your hands often with soap and water.  Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and then throw the tissue in the trash.  If you do not have a tissue, cough into your elbow, not into your hands.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth because that's how germs spread.  Disinfect household surfaces and workplace surfaces to reduce potential exposure.  And if you do get sick, stay home and please do not travel. 

Now that flu season is here, be proactive.  Get your flu shots, wash your hands frequently and take the other simple precautions.  For more information on flu safety, visit our Web site at michigan.gov/flu and the Centers for Disease Control Web site at cdc.gov/flu.

Thank you for listening.

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