You’ve probably been hearing a lot this year about the H1N1 flu.  And you may have questions.  You may have even had the flu, or know a friend or neighbor who has been sick. This features some tools suggested by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help you prevent the flu, know what to do if you get sick, and find a place to get vaccinated.  

People recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to receive the vaccine as soon possible include: health care workers; pregnant women; people ages 25 through 64 with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes; anyone from 6 months through 24 years of age; and people living with or caring for infants under 6 months old.

FLU.gov is a one-stop resource with the latest updates on the H1N1 flu.  On this site, you can find information on How to Prevent and Treat the Flu, Flu Essentials and Why the H1N1 Vaccine is Safe and Recommended by Health Experts.  To look up where to get vaccinated in your state, visit the Vaccine Locator. This information is updated regularly as more doses are shipped each week. 

An additional resource is the CDC hotline, 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636), which offers services in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Heard a rumor?  Visit Myths & Facts to run a fact check.

Dear Community Leader;
During public health emergencies and economically challenging times, community and faith-based organizations can play a critical role reaching out to those most-in-need, providing essential information and resources. Your help is needed as we work together to ensure hard-to-reach populations receive H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccinations in the coming months, and/or access needed human services programs.
As such, the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services (HHS) invites you, and those you serve, to participate in a regional conference call:

Region One - New England, Regional Conference Call
Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Dial in Information
1-888-946-4714
Passcode- 3389145 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time

Supporting the Role of Community and Faith-based Organizations
in the H1N1 Flu Response
and in the Economic Recovery Through Human Services