Joining a current trend in social media by using streaming videos to share important messages, the immunization community has created a variety of videos available online to increase awareness about the importance of vaccination. Here are a few favorites:
1. Vaccines for the Entire Family, a short animated video, created by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), emphasizes the importance of immunization for the entire family to help expectant mothers and all parents make informed decisions about vaccination.
2. Invisible Threat, a 40-minute documentary produced by award-winning high school student filmmakers at Carlsbad High School in Carlsbad, CA. The film focuses on understanding the science of vaccination and the misperceptions leading parents to delay or decline life-saving immunizations. For those in the Washington, DC area, NFID will be sponsoring a free screening followed by a panel discussion on Thursday, September 18 at 6:30 PM at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, MD. Online registration for the screening is recommended.
3. PBS NOVA recently premiered Vaccines – Calling the Shots. The show explores the science behind vaccinations, the return of preventable diseases, parents wrestling with vaccine-related questions, and the risks of opting out. The full episode as well as related tools and links are available on the PBS website.
4. Freddie the Flu Detective and Are You That Guy?, NFID’s 30-second animated public service announcements developed to create awareness on how to detect, prevent, and treat the flu.
5. Flu Funnies, a series of humorous videos produced by NFID illustrating some of the extreme measures parents might take to protect their children from seasonal influenza, and how easy a simple vaccination is in comparison.
Have you come across any entertaining, educating, interesting videos promoting vaccines? Share them with us in the comments below!
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