News Release

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Ad Council Launch Flu Vaccine Campaign

NEW YORK, December 10, 2004 -- Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson and the Ad Council today announced a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to provide Americans with critical information about flu vaccinations. The campaign asks Americans to "Give Others a Shot" if they are not in a priority group for the flu and provides simple tips to prevent the flu's spread.

This year, the Department's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stressed that flu shots need to go to those who are most vulnerable. The priority groups for flu vaccinations are all children aged 6 to 23 months; adults aged 65 and older; persons aged 2 to 64 with underlying chronic conditions; all women who will be pregnant during the flu season; residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities; and children aged 6 months to 18 years on chronic aspirin therapy.

Secretary Thompson expressed appreciation to those Americans who have forgone their flu shots in accordance with CDC guidelines. "It is in the best traditions of this nation for Americans to help those who need it most. In facing the challenges of this flu season, we must communicate clearly, quickly and effectively with the public. I want to thank the Ad Council for helping us achieve these goals by developing this innovative public service campaign."

According to Peggy Conlon, President & CEO of The Advertising Council. "It is our hope that this critical campaign will provide the public with the information they need to assess their flu risk and allow the vaccinations to protect those that are most at risk."

Created pro bono by ad agency Merkley + Partners, the television, radio, and Web PSAs encourage audiences to visit www.cdc.gov/flu or call CDC's toll-free number, 1-800-CDC-INFO, to get more information on this year's flu season and to see if they're at high risk for the flu. The PSAs also provide practical steps to help prevent the spread of the flu, including:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Keep your distance from others if you are sick.
• When possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick, and don't send your children to child care or school if they are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
• Clean your hands often.

"This campaign will help us achieve our overall goal, which is to make sure that the flu vaccine we have available goes to the people who will most benefit from vaccination," said CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding. "With the help of the American public, we believe most of the people who are in the priority groups will be able to get vaccinated. I thank the people across the United States who are being health heroes by stepping aside so those who need vaccine the most can get it."

Per the Ad Council model, the PSAs are being distributed up to 28,000 media outlets nationwide this week and will air and run in advertising time that is donated by the media.

"Our agency has been involved in many important campaigns for the Ad Council," said Sue Serenska, EVP/General Manager, Merkley Healthworks. "Yet, for this critical effort, we're thrilled to be part of the team, which will hopefully save lives."

The Ad Council has been partnering with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to develop PSA campaigns that address critical health issues since the 1950s. Their successful collaborations have included public service messages about the polio epidemic, drug abuse and more recently, obesity prevention.

The Department of Health and Human Services is the United States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. The department includes more than 300 programs, covering a wide spectrum of activities, including medical and social science research, preventing outbreak of infectious disease, including immunization services, assuring food and drug safety, welfare, and Medicare and Medicaid.

Merkley + Partners (www.merkleyandpartners.com) is a leading full-service advertising agency. Founded in 1993, M+P has more than a half billion dollars in billings and more than 250 employees. Headquartered in New York City, clients include: BMW Motorcycles, Citigroup, Fila, Mercedes-Benz USA, Lipitor, SBC Communications and Smith Barney. M+P is a part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC), a leading global marketing and communications company.

The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization with a rich history of marshalling volunteer talent from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public. Having produced literally thousands of PSA campaigns addressing the most pressing social issues of the day, the Ad Council has effected, and continues to effect, tremendous positive change by raising awareness, inspiring action, and saving lives. To learn more about the Ad Council and its campaigns, visit www.adcouncil.org.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Last Revised: December 10, 2004