Each year, anywhere between 5 and 20 percent of the U.S. population gets the flu, while complications from the flu send more than 200,000 Americans to the hospital annually. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting an annual seasonal influenza vaccine.

To help you get the message about flu vaccination out to your patients, a new online toolkit is available from the W. Montague Cobb/NMA Health Institute. The Immunization Toolkit provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' "Protecting All from the Flu" campaign, includes information about gaps in vaccination rates among diverse populations, and provides tips and resources for a successful vaccination campaign.

Visit http://cobb.nmanet.or g/cobbEE/toolkit/tk_index.html to download the toolkit.