Chicago Area Immunization Campaign
FLU SEASON PROJECTS
Flu Season Project
The CAIC coordinates and promotes activities that help educate the public
about the influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations and helps increase access
to immunization resources.
Influenza, also known as the flu, is a very contagious lung disease that causes over 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths each year in the United States. Anyone can get the flu. Flu infections among the elderly, the very young and those who are immunocompromised are more likely to lead to more serious complications, including hospitalization or death.
Annual Faith Luncheons
“Keeping Our Community Healthy: The Importance of Adult Vaccinations”
The CAIC has realized that for many minorities, the most influential forces in their lives are the church and their pastors and/or religious leaders. In partnership with the Chicago Department of Public Health, the CAIC hosts faith luncheons to familiarize faith leaders and their members on the importance of adult immunizations, with an emphasis on the complications associated with flu and pneumococcal diseases and the effectiveness of the vaccines. Also, discussed at the luncheon are ways in which public health and faith-based organizations can partner in order to increase immunization rates in the community.
Faith-based Flu Clinics
In partnership with the Chicago Department of Public Health, the CAIC
coordinates eight flu clinics at faith-based institutions that are in
communities where immunization coverage levels are low. The CDPH provides
the flu shots at these clinics that are held on the weekends from October
through December. The CAIC advertises the clinic dates.
For the schedule of the 2009 faith-based clinics in English,
click here (file called Faith Flu
Clinic 09) and for Spanish (file called Faith Flu Clinic 09 – Spanish),
click here.
For more information about the CAIC’s flu projects or to schedule an educational luncheon, contact Melissa Ponce at 312/491-8161 or mponce@ilmaternal.org.
I-Care