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Las Vegas Health Heroes Recognized for Promoting Flu Vaccination

As part of National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW), December 6-12, 2015, established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), government and health officials will join community partners to raise awareness about the benefits of flu vaccination and honor local flu vaccination heroes during a press conference and awards ceremony. 

 
Flu vaccination heroes to be honored include:
 
  • Nevada State Assemblyman, James Oscarson, for his efforts to provide access to flu vaccinations for the citizens of rural communities in district 36.
  • Joyce Goedeke, Vice President of Marketing/Public Relations for Southern Hills Hospital & Medical Center, for her leadership on the Immunize Nevada flu taskforce and for hosting a flu clinic at the Southern Hills Annual Balloon Festival.
  • Melissa Shake, Pharmacy Manager and Immunizations Trainer for Walgreens, for her leadership on the Immunize Nevada flu taskforce and dedication to community flu protection by coordinating free flu vaccinations across southern Nevada through Walgreens’ national flu vaccine voucher program.
  • Tavia Campbell, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder for Walls 360, Inc., for her sponsorship and donation for the 2015-2016 Immunize Nevada flu campaign.

WHO:                  
  • Dr. Rutu Ezhuthachan, Medical Director of United Healthcare Nevada and Vice-Chair of Immunize Nevada board, Master of Ceremonies
  • Karissa Loper, Immunization Program Manager for the Nevada State Immunization Program at the Division of Public and Behavioral Health
WHEN:                
Friday, December 11 – 10 to 11 a.m.       
 
WHERE:              
East Las Vegas Community and Senior Center (Ballroom), 250 N. Eastern Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89101
 
WHY:                    
The flu is a serious disease that causes illness, hospitalization and even death every year in the United States. Last season, eight children died from the flu in Nevada alone. According to the National Immunization Survey-Flu (NIS-Flu) and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), flu vaccination coverage disparities during the 2014-2015 flu season in Nevada existed among African Americans (35.6 percent) and Hispanics (38.9 percent) six months and older compared to the general Nevada population (41.5 percent).   

        

Contact: Stacey Escalante, CEO, Escalante Media Management LLC, stacey@staceyescalante.com or Lynnette Bellin, Director of Communications, Immunize Nevada lynnette@immunizenevada.org.