The American Heart Association and CEO Roundtable urge flu vaccination to promote employee and community health

Employers lead efforts to promote flu vaccines and mitigate the collision of influenza and COVID-19

DALLAS, Sept. 2, 2020 — More than 45 CEOs from some of the world’s largest and most-admired companies join with the American Heart Association (AHA), the world’s leading voluntary health organization dedicated to building longer, healthier lives, to protect employee and community health this flu season with a new PSA campaign, “Point of Prevention.” The campaign signals a fresh and heartfelt focus on how Americans can help save lives this fall, as the nation faces the potential “twindemic” of influenza and COVID-19.

The AHA CEO Roundtable – a leadership collaborative committed to supporting employee health and well-being – is doubling down on novel approaches to encourage higher flu vaccination rates.These strategies include more flexible human resource policies, paid time off to safely receive a flu shot, and drive through vaccination stations at worksites.

“The American Heart Association is safeguarding public health by promoting and magnifying the importance of receiving the flu shot during the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. “Flu vaccination this year is more important than ever, particularly for those with underlying health conditions, and, together with AHA CEO Roundtable members, we are focused on creating awareness about the benefits of the flu vaccine and reducing barriers to access.”

The coronavirus has dramatically changed the way many U.S. workplaces, organizations and communities are operating, creating new challenges and obstacles for people and their families to receive this annual vaccine. As influential leaders across industries, CEO Roundtable members—led by Alex Gorsky, Chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson, and Brian Moynihan, Chairman and CEO of Bank of America—are uniquely positioned to champion new strategies and solutions. By encouraging influenza vaccination, these CEOs are working to protect employees and save lives and across the nation.

“Companies across America have been rising to the challenge of keeping their employees safe and healthy—but there’s more we can and must do,” says Alex Gorsky, Chairman and CEO, Johnson & Johnson. “Ensuring employees not only have ready access to flu shots, but also feel encouraged and empowered to protect themselves will help prevent seasonal illnesses from hindering the progress being made in the fight against COVID-19.”

“Getting the flu can lead to complications with very serious consequences, that may include hospitalization and other major adverse health events like heart attacks or strokes, and death –  particularly for the 117 million people with underlying heart disease and other chronic diseases,” said Eduardo Sanchez, M.D., American Heart Association Chief Medical Officer for Prevention. “Flu vaccination is more important than ever as we seek to control and mitigate the effects of the 2019 coronavirus.”

For adults, the flu vaccine must be among the very top preventive health priorities this coming fall season—a fact that “Point of Prevention” highlights through the sharing of key statistics, and the poignant message that the reason we get our flu shot is to keep our loved ones safe. Developed by Hawkeye, a Dallas-based communications agency, the campaign taps into human empathy, featuring images of family members, friends and co-workers thereby appealing to both the emotional and rational reasons to get a flu shot this fall.

“In a ‘normal’ year, without this new, life-threatening coronavirus, the flu vaccine is a critical part of health and wellness in our families, companies, communities,” said Andrew Swinand, CEO of Leo Burnett Group North America—in which Hawkeye sits—and a member of the AHA CEO Roundtable. “’Point of Prevention’ gets right to the heart of this reality with a simple, undeniable message that we all have a reason for safety, and an action we can take to ensure it.”

For more information, visit heart.org/fluprevention.

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a leading force for a world of longer, healthier lives. With nearly a century of lifesaving work, the Dallas-based association is dedicated to ensuring equitable health for all. We are a trustworthy source empowering people to improve their heart health, brain health and well-being. We collaborate with numerous organizations and millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, advocate for stronger public health policies, and share lifesaving resources and information. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

About Hawkeye

Hawkeye, a one-of-a-kind human experience agency. We orchestrate experiences for people across their customer journey—leveraging human insight, the world’s best data, empathic creativity, and the most powerful technology available. We do all this to deliver business results for our clients, and to create more meaningful connections between humans and brands. Connect with us on hawkeyeagency.com, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

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For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173

Jennifer Pratt: 716-432-3307; [email protected]

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org