The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said it is joining with The Ad Council “to launch a series of national television public service advertisements (PSAs) designed to encourage Americans to take steps to protect themselves from the 2009 H1N1 flu virus.” HHS said the ads are designed specifically to reach children, parents, pregnant women and young adults, and that a second series of PSAs, aimed at encouraging high-risk populations to get the H1N1 vaccination, is launching in late October. Included in the PSAs being released are new spots featuring characters from Sesame Street , HHS said.

HHS Secretary Sebelius commented, “While getting a flu vaccine is the best way for Americans to protect themselves and their families from the flu, 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. 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 to help stop the spread of H1N1 and seasonal flu.”

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