Alachua County’s action against the flu has earned national recognition. The“Protecting Alachua County from Flu” program helped immunize 50% of the county’s elementary and middle school students. Program coordinator Cuc Tran says it’s important to focus on protecting this age group.
“Before, it used to be immunize the elderly folks, because they are usually the ones who die of flu. But kids are actually the disseminators of flu, on schools or virus exchange systems. So when children get the flu, they shed it for a longer period of time,” she said.
The program will be officially recognized nationwide on May 10th and serve as a model for future immunization programs.