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"I just got my flu shot, and I encourage others to do the same," Dr. Satcher said. "We especially want to encourage the elderly, people with chronic diseases that weaken their immune systems, and health care professionals who deal with these other two groups."

Surgeon General Satcher also announced that beginning this month, gospel music star CeCe Winans will join the Administration's public education campaign by appearing in spots on the American Urban Radio Network to encourage African-American seniors to get their flu shots.

Every winter, an influenza epidemic sweeps the country. For the vast majority of Americans, this may mean nothing more than a few days in bed; but for our most vulnerable Americans, especially seniors, this virus can be deadly. In fact, almost 20,000 Americans die each year from the flu. What is particularly tragic is that thousands of these deaths could have been prevented by vaccinations. While 65 percent of seniors receive the flu shot, millions more remain unprotected, even though the vaccinations are often free under Medicare.

Pneumococcal disease, a common cause of pneumonia, kills more than 10,000 Americans each year, many of them over the age of 65. "Together, influenza and pneumococcal disease are the most common causes of death for Americans that can be prevented by vaccines," Dr. Satcher said.

Ms. Winans recorded the radio spots for HHS as a way of helping reach more African-American seniors with this important health information. Influenza and pneumonia are one of the leading causes of death for seniors, and African-American and Hispanic seniors are less likely to be vaccinated. Improving influenza and pneumonia vaccination rates among minority adults is one of six critical areas of health that President Clinton has targeted in his Initiative to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health.

Flu shots must be given every year because the influenza virus changes from year to year and because antibody protection from the vaccine wanes over time. Flu vaccine is specifically recommended for people who are at high risk for developing serious complications as a result of influenza infection. These groups include all people aged 65 years or older; all people in nursing homes; and people with chronic heart, lung, or kidney disease, diabetes, immunosuppression or severe forms of anemia.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that the best time to conduct annual vaccination campaigns is between October and mid-November. However, people may still benefit from vaccination after that time, even if flu cases have appeared in the community. Pneumococcal shots are recommended for most of the same people who should receive flu shots, and are usually given only once.

Medicare coverage for flu shots for the elderly began in 1993, as the Clinton administration launched an effort to increase immunization rates among older adults. The shots are free for those enrolled in Medicare Part B from physicians who accept Medicare payment as full payment. Medicare also covers vaccinations against pneumonia. A beneficiary who has not previously received the pneumococcal vaccine can obtain it at the same time as the flu shot. Information about flu and pneumonia immunization may be found on the Internet at www.medicare.gov/wellness/flu.html.

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