Take Your Shot Campaign

An estimated 25 million to 50 million cases of influenza are currently reported each year - leading to 150,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths annually in the United States.

Influenza Imposed Burden

With hospital visits and additional health-care costs rising, influenza poses an economic burden to businesses and the broader community. For example, each year, influenza is responsible for significant lost productivity in the United States. Recent estimates put the costs of the flu in the U.S. at $71 billion to $167 billion annually. Other impacts of influenza include:

• Children 7 and under lose an average of 2.5 school days to influenza.
• Adults can lose an average of:
  • 2.4 days incapacitated or confined to a bed
  • 2.8 work days being sick with influenza
  • 1.3 work days caring for a child 7 or under with influenza
• Up to 111 million adult workdays - costing $7 billion - are lost every year to influenza in sick days and lost productivity

Each year Adventist HealthCare, through its Health and Wellness Department vaccinates approximately 10,000 residents through flu shot events at our facilities, churches, malls, business and community centers. Through its two hospitals in Montgomery County (Washington Adventist and Shady Grove Adventist), Adventist HealthCare provides more flu shots to the community than any other Maryland hospital in the area.

2008 Flu Campaign Goals

During 2008, Adventist HealthCare is launching the “Take Your Shot for Health” campaign to help build awareness of and increase participation in annual flu shots within the community. Adventist HealthCare will work to provide 15,000 flu shots to community residents this year.  These shots will be distributed at flu shot clinics throughout Montgomery County, including two drive-through clinics in partnership with the Montgomery County Department of Health. Additionally, a limited number of free flu shots will be distributed by Adventist HealthCare at select flu shot clinics in conjunction with community partners.

Campaign Partners

Adventist HealthCare is proud to partner with the following community partners for this year’s Take Your Shot for Health campaign.