U.S. government partners with Ad Council on swine flu PSAs

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services partnered with the Ad Council to produce a number of public service announcements to help govern awareness on H1N1 swine flu prevention and vaccination.

The United States government has begun stepping up its campaign to increase awareness among the American population on how the H1N1 swine flu pandemic can be prevented and on the existence of a safe vaccine. Announcing its partnership with the Ad Council on Thursday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is issuing a number of public service announcements. In an appeal to pregnant women, the Ad Council recruited a actress Amy Ryan to play the role of a real-life pregnant woman. Citing the CDC, Ryan advises pregnant women on taking precautionary steps - like coughing into a sleeve - and on getting both H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccinations. We are also introduced to "bag man," a well-wrapped character who shows up to an office meeting in a head-to-toe hefty bag. This is his protection against the H1N1 virus. Then there's the H1N1 rap, a 30-second hip-hop piece written and performed by a real doctor. Another PSA features Sesame Street characters on the right way to sneeze. But, as silly as it seems, it was also reported on Thursday that the first wave sent more hospitalized patients to intensive care units than was previously disclosed - reminding us that this is a dangerous virus. "While getting a flu vaccine is the best way for Americans to protect themselves and their families from the flu, right now as we wait for the H1N1 vaccine to get distributed out into local doctors offices and sites across the country, there are critically important things that Americans can be doing right now to keep their friends and family healthy and safe and to prevent the spread of flu," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said, in a press release issued Thursday. "These new prevention PSAs will help us get the word out about what to do about the flu. Fighting the flu is a shared responsibility between all of us and we are so grateful to all those who helped create these wonderful new messages. We are hopeful that Americans will spread these new PSAs virally and use to them help stop the spread of H1N1 and seasonal flu."