All reports indicate a “bumper crop” of influenza vaccines – more than 140 million doses are expected to ship during this year’s flu season.

However, roughly 60 percent of health care professionals (HCPs) skip the flu shot. That’s why ISMS launched “Bee First in Line” – a vaccination awareness campaign to help HCPs “get the point” about the need for an annual flu shot.

Research shows that if a physician is first to receive a flu shot, his or her patient will more likely get vaccinated. To access the “Bee First in Line” toolkit, along with related resources for patients, visit www.isms.org.

National Influenza Vaccination Week: Dec. 8 – Dec. 14

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) produces a national awareness campaign each year to educate the general public about the importance of influenza vaccination and the need to continue with vaccinations through December and beyond. Visit the CDC’s flu web site at www.cdc.gov/flu.

Contact: Katie Gilfillan, 800-782-4767 ext. 2459 or katiegilfillan@isms.org