- Julie Moise
Mother of Ian, Who Died From Influenza-related Complications at 6 1/2 Months of Age Also Living With Asthma
- Julie Moise lost her 6 1/2-month-old son, Ian, to influenza-related complications in 2003, just 2 days after he was diagnosed with the disease. Ian received his first dose of the vaccination 2 weeks prior to his death, but he became ill before he could receive his second dose, which would have given him full immunity against the disease. Julie had Ian's 2 older brothers vaccinated the year that Ian died, but did not know that she and her husband should also have been vaccinated in order to better protect her family.
Since Ian's death, Julie has recognized that there are many “faces” of influenza—people who fall into one or more target groups recommended for annual immunization by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She has seen many of these “faces” within her own family—Julie and her oldest son, Sean, have asthma; Julie's husband, Glenn, is a household contact; and their 3 children are between 6 months and 18 years of age.1
By working with the American Lung Association's Faces of Influenza campaign, Julie hopes to educate other families that the best way to prevent influenza is through annual vaccination.
- Are you At Risk?
- Download the stories