WILMINGTON, Del. — AstraZeneca has partnered with actor James Van Der Beek on a campaign to stress the importance of getting an annual flu vaccination and to address common myths about influenza.
 |
Actor James Van Der Beek receives a FluMist Quadrivalent nasal spray flu vaccine. |
The drug maker said Monday that the effort also highlights the benefits of its FluMist Quadrivalent nasal spray influenza vaccine.
As part of the campaign, "CSI: Cyber" star Van Der Beek appears in an informative and comedic video, titled "Just the Flu Facts," in which he uses his signature sense of humor to debunk common misconceptions about seasonal flu that are often barriers to vaccination.
"As parents of three young children, my wife and I do everything we can to keep our family healthy," Van Der Beek said in a statement. "As health conscious as I am, I was surprised to learn that even I had been subscribing to many commonly held beliefs about the flu that are actually myths. Because influenza can have a serious impact on the entire family, I felt it was important to help people separate flu fact from fiction."
For example, AstraZeneca noted, many people think that the flu isn’t a serious illness and is comparable to the common cold. In reality, influenza is a contagious disease that can lead to serious complications and hospitalizations.
"Influenza can result in 200,000 hospitalizations each year in the U.S., and flu results in more pediatric hospitalizations than any other vaccine-preventable disease," stated Dave Fredrickson, vice president of specialty care at AstraZeneca. "We work closely with health care providers, retailers and the public health community to make FluMist Quadrivalent broadly accessible to consumers. Since 2003, our nasal spray flu vaccine has been given to more than 75 million people to help prevent influenza."
Besides doctors’ offices, people can get vaccinated with FluMist Quadrivalent at public health departments, schools, military bases and retail pharmacies, including Walgreens, Rite Aid and Target. To help consumers find where FluMist Quadrivalent is available in their area, AstraZeneca has created an online vaccine finder.
FluMist Quadrivalent, which can be administered to patients ages 2 to 49, helps protect against four flu strains: two strains of influenza A and two strains of influenza B. Whereas the traditional flu shot contains killed viruses, FluMist Quadrivalent is a live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), comprised of weakened, live viruses. Yet AstraZeneca pointed out that contrary to popular belief, no form of the flu vaccine — nasal spray or shot — can cause the flu.
"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that annual vaccination is the best way to help prevent the flu each year," commented Peter Lechman, M.D., medical director at Northwestern Medical Group Pediatrics. "What many people don’t realize is that in addition to the traditional flu shot, FluMist Quadrivalent is a needle-free, nasal spray flu vaccine that’s administered as a gentle mist sprayed into the nose, where the influenza virus typically enters the body."
According to AstraZeneca, data show that LAIV is more effective than the shot in certain pediatric populations, and for that reason the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recently named LAIV as the preferred type of flu vaccine for those age groups. Still, not all flu vaccines are approved for all people, and individuals should speak with their doctor or pharmacist to determine if they are eligible to receive FluMist Quadrivalent, the company added.
"Together with our doctor, my wife and I decided that FluMist Quadrivalent was the right choice for us," Van Der Beek stated. "I encourage all individuals and parents to talk to their health care provider about which flu vaccine is right for themselves and their family."
