Why Flu Vaccination Matters: Personal Stories From Families Affected by Influenza

“Why Flu Vaccination Matters: Personal Stories from Families Affected by Influenza,” is an award winning collection of video portraits recognizing the importance of childhood vaccinations against influenza in the U.S. The video was produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2008, as part of CDC's annual influenza vaccination campaign. Influenza takes a big toll on young children – every year in the U.S., an average of 20,000 children younger than five are hospitalized because of influenza-related complications. One hundred children die from this serious disease each year. Vaccination is the best and most effective way to prevent and spread the disease, especially for children ages 6 months through 18 years. AED collaborated with Families Fighting Flu (FFF), a volunteer based organization made of families who have experienced death or severe medical complications of a child from influenza, to provide the content of the video. Through the video, five FFF parents speak to parents and caregivers of young children from their personal experience about the seriousness of influenza in this emotionally powerful video. Since its release this video has been viewed an estimated 190 million times through its broadcast on network and local television and the internet. The video continues to be available on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/cdcflu) and mailed in DVD format worldwide, for viewing at conferences and in-services, on closed-circuit television, in schools, hospitals, government agencies and private companies. In 2009, the video won two awards: a Silver DC ADDY for excellence in advertising by the regional affiliate of the American Advertising Federation, the oldest, national advertising trade association in the U.S.; and a Bronze Anvil for outstanding public relations tactics demonstrating sound and well-conceived communication by the Public Relations Society of America, the world's largest organization for public relations professionals.