Catholic Central High School has been awarded the first-time winner of the 8th Annual Alana Yaksich Catholic School Flu Vaccination Challenge with 88 in-school vaccinations. The competition's purpose was to encourage yearly flu vaccinations for students, staff, and families by hosting in-school vaccinations during the fall of 2023. 

A total of six Catholic schools participated in the competition:  

• Detroit Catholic Central High School: 88 vaccinations  
• Mercy High School: 70 vaccinations 
• Divine Child High School: 59 vaccinations 
• St. Hugo of the Hills: 51 vaccinations 
• Orchard Lake St. Mary: 50 vaccinations 
• Detroit Cristo Rey: 25 vaccinations  

In total, 343 doses of the influenza vaccination were administered between all six schools. In 2022, there were 497 doses administered with 599 doses in 2021 and 786 in 2020. Although the numbers are down, the Alana Foundation emphasizes that it is important to remember we protected people from a vaccine preventable disease.  

Alana’s Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Zachary Yaksich in loving memory of his daughter Alana Yaksich, who died of influenza in February of 2003 at the age of five. Their mission is to organize programs and activities that prevent deaths caused by influenza and provide support for families with children who have died from any illness. They hope to encourage more Catholic schools (K-12) in Michigan to participate in the friendly competition.  

Catholic Central High School will house the Alana Yaksich Memorial Trophy until the end of the next year’s competition in 2024. 

For more information about Alana’s Foundation, please visit www.alanasfoundation.org.