Kansas govenor to appear in public service ad to promote swine flu vaccinations

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Kansas govenor to appear in public service ad to promote swine flu vaccinations

By Associated Press
4:01 AM CST, December 14, 2009


TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) ? Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson is joining with U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin to announce a campaign encouraging people to get swine flu vaccinations.

The two will hold a news conference Monday afternoon to discuss new public service announcements.

Parkinson appears in one ad with the Public Broadcasting System's "Sid the Science Kid" in a message that targets children and parents.

Parkinson, Benjamin and Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will answer media questions during Monday's event.

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On the Net:

Governor's office: http://www.governor.ks.gov

http://www.fox4kc.com/news/sns-ap-ks--parkinson-swineflu,0,1699556.story

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Re: Kansas govenor to appear in public service ad to promote swine flu vaccinations

Kan. gov. to promote swine flu vaccinations

Posted In: Environment
By JOHN MILBURN - Associated Press Writer - Associated Press

Monday, December 14, 2009

Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson is appearing in a new public service ad to encourage parents to get their children vaccinated ahead of the next wave of swine flu.

Parkinson is the 15th governor to record an ad designed to promote protection against the H1N1 virus, which has already claimed 22 lives in Kansas. He is joined by the Public Broadcasting System's "Sid the Science Kid" in the new ad.

The governor said during a conference call Monday that supply of the vaccine was equal to demand in Kansas, and in some cases more is available than demand from critical populations.

"We really need to encourage people who need to be vaccinated to receive the vaccination," Parkinson said. "People need to continue to take this seriously.

Kansas health officials estimate that the state has received 700,000 doses of the swine flu vaccine, but that nearly 2 million residents have either not been exposed to the virus or been vaccinated.

Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin said the number of deaths and activity related to swine flu is higher than the traditional flu season and that a third wave of cases is expected after the holidays after travelers return home and schoolchildren go back to the classroom. Benjamin said 47 million Americans have contracted swine flu, with 10,000 deaths.

Health officials have said that children are among the most vulnerable populations for swine flu, along with pregnant women and individuals with underlying chronic health conditions. Some clinics in Kansas have ample supply of the vaccine and are expanding clinics for the general population.

Parkinson gave credit to the state's response to swine flu to the actions of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the adjutant general, especially efforts to establish vaccination centers in each of the 105 counties.

KDHE spokeswoman Maggie Thompson said as of Dec. 5 that there were local outbreaks of swine flu, down from the levels Kansas saw in October.

"What we are seeing is doctors and hospitals seeing fewer patients with flulike illness. There's also less absenteeism at work and schools," she said.

Dr. Jason Eberhart-Phillips, the state health director, said in an op-ed piece released Monday that residents should feel safe about the vaccine and that there were fewer than 5,000 reported cases of side effects out of nearly 64 million doses administered nationwide.

"This much is certain, getting the vaccine is far safer than getting infected with the pandemic virus," he wrote.

http://www.rdmag.com/News/FeedsAP/2009/12/environment-kan-gov-to-promote-swine-flu-vaccinations/

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Re: Kansas govenor to appear in public service ad to promote swine flu vaccinations

Vaccination the message for new H1N1 PSA campaign

The Morning Sun
Posted Dec 14, 2009 @ 03:34 PM
Last update Dec 14, 2009 @ 04:15 PM
TOPEKA ?


Get vaccinated. That?s the message in a new television public service announcement (PSA) released today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Ad Council.

The PSA features Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson and the Jim Henson Company?s ?Sid the Science Kid.? The new PSA brings together one of America?s favorite TV characters and Governor Parkinson to remind children and parents that vaccination is the best way to stay healthy during this flu season.

?With a record number of pediatric deaths, children are one of the most vulnerable populations when it comes to H1N1 flu,? said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

?Not only are they at higher risk for complications from H1N1 but they also contribute to the spread of the virus because of school, daycare and other group activities. That?s why we are pleased to team up with America?s Governors and
?Sid the Science Kid,? as we urge more Americans to get vaccinated.?

?Vaccinations are the best way to protect our children from the H1N1 flu; I say that not just as a Governor, but as a parent,? said Parkinson. ?The Department of Health and Human Services has done a great job of making H1N1 vaccines available throughout Kansas, but now it?s up to us to make sure our kids are vaccinated.?

?Right now, Americans have a window of opportunity to protect themselves and their communities by getting vaccinated against the H1N1 flu,? Sebelius said.

?While disease has declined in many areas of the country, the flu is unpredictable and there could be additional waves of illness as flu season continues. Getting vaccinated is the best way to lessen the impact of, or even prevent another wave of H1N1 flu.?

Children, young adults under 25, pregnant women and adults 25-64 with underlying health conditions, like asthma, are more susceptible to falling ill to the H1N1 flu and are at higher risk for serious medical complications, including hospitalization and death. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that individuals in these groups, as well as caretakers of children younger than six months of age, and health care workers get the H1N1 vaccine as soon as possible.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that between April and November 14, 2009, 47 million people were infected with the 2009 H1N1 flu, more than 200,000 H1N1-related hospitalizations occurred, and there were more than 9,800 H1N1-related deaths. CDC estimates that between mid-April and November 14, that there were over 1,000 pediatric deaths, 71,000 pediatric hospitalizations, and a total of 16 million pediatric cases.

Created in collaboration with the Jim Henson Company, the new PSA campaign is designed specifically to reach children and parents. On October 26, a special episode of Sid the Science Kid ?Getting a Shot: You Can Do It? premiered on PBS KIDS, in which Sid and his friends get vaccinated against the flu. The special episode will continue running on PBS through 2010 and is available for download on www.Flu.gov. The campaign builds on a broader HHS PSA campaign that was launched earlier this year and includes messages from Members of Congress, Elmo, top-health officials, and an Ad Council campaign for TV and radio called

?Together We Can All Fight the Flu.? All HHS PSAs are available at www.Flu.gov.

The new 30-second television PSAs will be distributed locally through the Ad Council. In addition to Governor Parkinson, 14 other Governors, a state First Lady, and a state Chief Medical Officer recorded PSAs with ?Sid the Science Kid.?

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VIDEO LINK:

http://www.morningsun.net/blogs/politics/x1479445967/Vaccination-the-message-for-new-H1N1-PSA-campaign