CHICAGO -- With the flu vaccine shortage this year, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have advised Americans, "Hand washing is the most important thing you can do to keep from getting sick." As a reminder and incentive for individuals to wash their hands more frequently, The Handwashing for Life Institute is providing a free, downloadable poster on its Web site at http://www.handwashingforlife.com The poster states, "Shot or Not, Wash Right, Left and Often." Space is provided to sign a pledge, "I will wash my hands often."
Jim Mann, executive director of the Handwashing for Life Institute, says, "Even if you have the flu vaccine, it is only 50 percent effective. A commitment to hand hygiene is likely to afford you better protection than the vaccine itself. Added handwashing also gives you added protection from a long list of foodborne illness threats, including norovirus, the number one foodborne pathogen."