Toolkit

Flu season is already here. For those of us who work in public health and immunizations, that means we’re busy getting the word out about the importance of getting an annual flu vaccine.

Communication is always important during flu season. As a partner of Immunize Nevada, we hope these resources help save you time and also help you make sure that we’re using similar messages about influenza across the state.


Download: Flu Materials Order Form

Download: Germ Coloring Pages in ENG/SPA

Help Promote the NFID #TravelingFluBug! Download and print out the Flu Bug and take a picture of the cutout in your hometown, office, school, or near an interesting landmark or print a blank template to color yourself. 
 

Toolkits for Specific Audiences:

Jump to a section:

Key Messages

  • The CDC recommends a flu vaccine as the best way to protect against flu
  • Everyday preventive actions like covering your cough, staying away from people who are sick and washing your hands often can help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses like the flu.
  • Influenza antiviral medications are an important second line of defense against the flu.

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Sample Social Media Posts
 

Download Sample Social Media Content from the CDC

The below posts can be copied and pasted into Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to use the hashtag of #fightflu and #nvfightflu with your posts. Another way to help spread the word is to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and share our posts with your social networks as the flu season progresses.


Tips

  • Easy tips to protect yourself from #flu (step 1: Get your flu vax!): Protect yourself with the #flu vaccine. #nvflu http://bit.ly/1Qyu9PB
  • Watch: Something creepy is going on around here — it’s the flu virus. Protect yourself with the #flu vaccine. #nvflu http://bit.ly/1LxTcPk
  • Watch: What evil lurks where we least suspect it? It’s the flu virus. Protect yourself with the #flu vaccine. #nvflu http://bit.ly/1Ge5Hmp
  • Medicare and Medicaid cover both #flu and pneumonia vaccines with no co-pay or deductible. #nvflu #FightFlu
  • The Vaccines for Children program provides #flu vax to eligible children under 19 yrs at low or no cost. #nvflu Find a clinic: www.vfcnevada.org
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way. And don’t forget your annual flu vax, which is the best way to avoid the flu. #nvflu
  • Wash hands often with soap and water, cough/sneeze into your elbow, teach children to do the same. And get your #flu vaccine #nvflu
  • Pregnant women and their babies are at higher risk for flu-related complications, including premature labor and preterm birth. #FightFlu
  • Flu vax is recommended in any trimester for all women who are pregnant or who plan to become pregnant during the flu season. #FightFlu

Statistics

  • Average number of Americans hospitalized each year because of flu complications: 200,000. #FightFlu and get your #flu vaccine today!
  • Average number of lost school days each year due to flu and flu complications: 38 million. #FightFlu and get your #flu vaccine today!
  • Flu causes 111 million lost workdays a year, resulting in > $7 billion in lost wages. #FightFlu and get your #flu vaccine today!
  • 20,000 children under 5 are hospitalized each year from the flu. #FightFlu and get your #flu vaccine today!
  • 90% of flu-related deaths are from people over 65 years of age. #FightFlu and get your #flu vaccine today!

Prevention

  • 20 seconds of scrubbing under warm water and soap will kill 99.99% of germs on your hands. #FightFlu and get your #flu vaccine today.
  • Hands can hold germs for up to 5 minutes after coming into contact with other surfaces. #FightFlu and get your #flu vaccine today!
  • Germs can linger in the air for up to an hour in an enclosed environment. #FightFlu and get your #flu vaccine today!
  • A sick person can be contagious for 24 hours before symptoms are noticed. #FightFlu and get your #flu vaccine today!
  • An infected person can exhale germs that travel up to 6 feet. #FightFlu and get your #flu vaccine today!

Personalized (photos/organization in support)

  • [INSERT NAME] leads by example & encourages others to protect themselves & those around them. #FightFlu [INSERT PHOTO]
  • [INSERT NAME] got #vaccinated to #FightFlu. RT if you got yours. [INSERT PHOTO]
  • [INSERT ORGANIZATION] joins @ImmunizeNV to help spread the word: every year, #GetVaccinated to #FightFlu.
  • It’s time to #FightFlu! [INSERT ORGANIZATION] encourages everyone age 6 months & older to #GetVaccinated!
  • Excited to kick-off #flu season with @ImmunizeNV. Don’t hesitate, vaccinate to #FightFlu

Seasonal Social Media Posts (Facebook and Twitter)

September

  • RT if your 'to do' list includes an annual #flu vaccine! #FightFlu
  • #Flu symptoms include fever, aches, chills, & extreme tiredness. Symptoms come on suddenly-much faster than colds #FightFlu
  • The single best way to prevent #flu is to #GetVaccinated each year. RT if you already got yours #FightFlu
  • Children are 2-3 times more likely than adults to get sick with the #flu. Annual #vaccines are important for kids & adults! #FightFlu

October

  • As the weather grows colder, be prepared for #flu season. #GetVaccinated annually for protection! #FightFlu
  • RT if you got your #flu vaccine this year! #FightFlu
  • Keep your child home for 24 hours after fever is gone before sending them back to school #fightflu

November

  • Stay home if you’re sick--don’t be ‘That Guy!’ http://bit.ly/ZVrkky #FightFlu
  • November 6 – Election Day
    • Vote yes for #flu vaccine! #GetVaccinated to #FightFlu
  • November 22 – Thanksgiving
    • Give thanks, not #flu. Protect yourself & your family by getting #vaccinated!  #FightFlu
    • Pass the stuffing, not the flu. Make sure everyone at the table gets vaccinated! 
    • Give thanks for your family’s health and keep them healthy with recommended #vaccines 

December

  • It’s not too late to #GetVaccinated. #FightFlu to protect yourself & your loved ones today! http://bit.ly/1PyJ6Eq
  • This holiday season, keep your family happy, healthy & #flu free. Make sure everyone 6 months+ gets vaccinated to #FightFlu!
  • The holidays are here! Make sure your to-do list includes getting your family vaccinated to #FightFlu! http://bit.ly/1tvPdJq
  • Before you visit grandma & grandpa this holiday season, make sure you #GetVaccinated to #FightFlu
  • Just like holiday cheer, #flu begins to peak in December. Protect yourself & your family. #GetVaccinated to #FightFlu!

Remember: Plenty of additional social media content will be provided while in-season. This is just to get you started!

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Frequently Asked Questions

View the CDC’s Influenza FAQs.

What are signs and symptoms of the flu?

People who have the flu often feel some or all of these signs and symptom, think F.A.C.T.S.:

  • Fever* or feeling feverish
  • Aches: muscle or body
  • Chills
  • Tiredness
  • Sudden Onset
  • Headache
  • Sore Throat
  • Cough

*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever

Who is at high risk for developing flu-related complications?

Vaccination of people at high risk of developing serious influenza-related complications is especially important to decrease their risk of severe illness as a result of flu.

People at high risk of serious flu complications include young children, pregnant women, people with certain chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart and lung disease, and people aged 65 years and older.
The full list of high-risk conditions is available on the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/high_risk.htm.

Who else should get vaccinated?

Other people for whom vaccination is especially important are:

  • People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
  • People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
    • Health care workers
    • Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
    • Household contacts and caregivers of children younger than 5 years of age with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children younger than 6 months of age (children younger than 6 months are at highest risk of flu-related complications but are too young to get vaccinated)

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The following links contains a number of resources to help you in your communication efforts this flu season. We will update these materials throughout the season, since each flu season is different and we have a need to be prepared to answer a variety of questions.

  • Healthmap Vaccine Finder: Locate vaccines near you vaccine.healthmap.org
  • CDC: One stop access to the most current information available from the CDC and DHHS
    www.cdc.gov/flu

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