October 5, 2004
For Immediate Release

U.S. Assistant Secretary for Aging Encourages Seniors to Get Flu Vaccination

Josefina G. Carbonell, Assistant Secretary, Administration on Aging (AoA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will encourage adults 65 years of age and older, health care workers, and family caregivers who come into contact with seniors to be vaccinated this year – and EVERY year– against the flu.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only 66 percent of people 65 years old or older receive an annual vaccination against the flu, falling far short of the Healthy People 2010 goal for 90 percent vaccination coverage in this age group. Vaccination rates for racial and ethnic minorities are much lower than the national average, with only about 49 percent of Hispanics and 50 percent of African Americans 65 years old or older receiving the flu shot every year. Additionally, while CDC recommends that all health care workers be vaccinated to prevent the spread of disease, less than 39 percent of health care workers are vaccinated against the flu annually.

Assistant Secretary Carbonell will speak at the Chicago Racial and Ethnic Adult Disparities in Immunization Initiative (READII) press conference about AoA's role in the Chicago READII Initiative.

What: Chicago Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Immunization Initiative (READII) Press Conference

When: Wednesday, October 6, 2004

10:00am—10:15am

Where: Chicago Department on Aging Senior Services Center

2102 W. Ogden Ave.

Chicago, IL 60612

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The AoA is a Federal agency dedicated to policy development, planning and the delivery of supportive home and community-based services to older persons and their caregivers through the national aging network of state and local agencies on aging, tribal organizations, service providers and volunteers.