The “Know What to do about Pandemic Flu” Campaign

In 2006, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Public Affairs and CDC’s National Center for Health Marketing asked AED to work with them to develop a national awareness campaign to encourage people to learn more about pandemic flu and to reduce the impact of the next influenza pandemic.

The purpose of the first phase of the “Know What to do about Pandemic Flu” campaign will be to explain to the American public the difference between avian, annual and pandemic flu and to encourage them to learn simple and concrete steps they can take to prepare, such as practicing good hygiene and storing a two-week supply of food and water.

For the first phase of this campaign, AED developed TV PSAs in English and Spanish, Radio PSAs in English and Spanish, and collateral print materials to build awareness of three preparedness activities:

• personal protective behaviors to reduce infection transmission,
• home planning
• community planning

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt launched the Phase 1 products at a press conference February 1, 2007.

A second objective is to drive people to the project Web site, www.PandemicFlu.gov or to call 1-800-CDC-INFO for more information.

In Phase 2, HHS, CDC and AED will continue to promote and explain preparedness steps through national media, national and local partners, and the project Web site.

In Phase 3, HHS and AED will develop mass communication products for use during the next pandemic period.

Infection Control in Health Care Settings

The on-going media attention regarding pandemic, avian and even seasonal influenza has many U.S. healthcare workers on edge about their own health and safety at work. Emergency room and hospital workers are especially concerned. To address these worries, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) asked AED to write and design easy to use, web-friendly products for dissemination among their 2 million union membership, the majority of who work in health care settings.

AED developed and wrote two Fact Sheets/FAQS:

	Using Infection Control to Prevent the Spread of Flu in Healthcare Settings [PDF -299KB]
	Seasonal, Avian and Pandemic Flu [PDF - 73KB]