Black health officials recommended Thursday that black folks -- particularly adults over 50 years old -- get a flu shot before the winter season begins.

Dr. Lorraine Cole, president of the Black Women’s Health Imperative, said black people must take greater responsibility for their own well-being, starting with getting a flu shot as soon as possible.

"Black people, particularly seniors, are often at greater risk of contracting the flu and having serious complications from it because of the high rates of chronic disorders such as asthma, diabetes, heart conditions, kidney disease, sickle cell disease and HIV in our community," Cole told BlackAmericaWeb.com.

"Each year," she said, "there are more than 36,000 deaths caused by the flu, and more than 200,000 hospitalizations, mostly among older adults."

In a recent study, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that not enough people are getting flu shots, and that even a smaller number of the nation's ethnic minorities get vaccinated.

Less than 50 percent of blacks and Latinos who need to be protected from the flu got vaccinated in 2003, according to the CDC study.

During every flu season, the CDC encourages people over 65, pregnant women, children, and those with compromised immune systems to get flu shots. Medical workers who take care of these vulnerable populations are also encouraged to get them.

In 2003, among the people who were encouraged to get flu shots, only 48 percent of blacks and 45 percent of Latinos did so. The CDC's goal is to give flu shots to most of the nation's elderly population.

"As the old adage says, 'An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,' and a flu shot is the best prevention," Cole said. "That's probably the only old adage that applies when it come to the flu."

Experts also suggest that many black Americans have a historical distrust of the health care system and do not take some health-related recommendations seriously.

In Kansas City, Nicole Collins is working with the American Red Cross in a program to increase the number of flu shots given to members of the black community. Working through black churches, according to the Red Cross, Collins has initiated a plan to provide flu shot-related education to black congregations.

"There has been no scientific proof that any old home remedies, herbs or homeopathic products protect against the flu virus," Cole said. "The flu season reaches it peak in January and February. So, it is very important to get a flu shot no later than November or December because it takes about two weeks before the body can build enough antibodies from the shot to fight the flu virus."

Who should get vaccinated? In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get flu shots. However, certain people should get vaccinated each year. They are either people who are at high risk of having serious flu complications or people who live with or care for those at high risk for serious complications.

According to the CDC, people at high risk for complications from the flu are:

• People 65 years and older.
• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term carefacilities that house those with long-term illnesses;
• Adults and children 6 months and older with chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma;
• Adults and children 6 months and older who needed regular medical care or were in a hospital during the previous year because of a metabolic disease (like diabetes), chronic kidney disease, or weakened immune system (including immune system problems caused by medicines or by infection with human immunodeficiency virus [HIV/AIDS]).
• Children six months to 18 years of age who are on long-term aspirin therapy (Children given aspirin while they have influenza are at risk of Reye syndrome.).
• Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season.
• All children six to 23 months of age.
• People with any condition that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions (that is, a condition that makes it hard to breathe or swallow, such as brain injury or disease, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other nerve or muscle disorders.).