Actor Tim Daly in partnership with the
American Lung Association and Pfizer launches the WHO PNEU?™
Campaign – Urging adults 50 and older to know their Pneumococcal
pneumonia risk
The American Lung Association in partnership with Pfizer
announces the launch of WHO PNEU?™, a public awareness
campaign encouraging Baby Boomers and older Gen X-ers to recognize
their personal risk for pneumococcal pneumonia — a serious lung
disease1 that can be spread by coughing and sneezing.2 An estimated
quarter of a million US adults over 50 are hospitalized each year
with pneumococcal pneumonia.3,4
This Smart News Release features multimedia.
View the full release here:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150930005458/en/
Norman H. Edelman, M.D., Senior
Scientific Advisor, the American Lung Association (Photo: Business
Wire)
On behalf of Pfizer and the American Lung Association, Harris
Poll conducted a telephone survey of 1000 U.S. adults aged 50 to
75. Findings from this survey showed that 85 percent of respondents
think people 50 and older are at risk for pneumococcal pneumonia,
but only 1 in 2 (50 percent) agree they are personally at
risk.5
“While many of us over 50 may act and feel younger, the truth is
our immune system naturally weakens with age, putting us at
increased risk for infectious diseases. With WHO PNEU?, we
are providing a wake-up call for these adults to talk to their
doctors and see if they are up to date on their vaccinations,” said
Harold P. Wimmer, National President and Chief Executive Officer of
the American Lung Association.
Starting this fall, WHO PNEU? will roll out a national
PSA (public service announcement) campaign on television, radio and
print, featuring actor, director, producer and philanthropist Tim
Daly.
“Some people think you have to be elderly and in the hospital to
get pneumococcal pneumonia, but that’s not so,” said Freda
Lewis-Hall, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Pfizer. “Anyone can get
pneumococcal pneumonia anywhere and at any time, and the risk
increases after we turn 50.6 It’s also important to understand that
pneumococcal pneumonia can be a really serious condition and
shouldn’t be taken lightly.”
Daly, 59, who currently stars as Henry McCord in the CBS hit
series Madam Secretary, and is well known for his lead TV roles in
The Sopranos, Private Practice and Wings, knows firsthand about the
risk of pneumococcal pneumonia. His mom was hospitalized with the
disease for over a week in 1991.
“At first, my mom thought she had a bad cold, but the second I
saw her I knew something was seriously wrong. She looked horrible.
She was very weak and pale, and struggling to breathe,” said Daly,
recounting the day he visited his mom and then decided to drive her
straight to the hospital emergency room. “The experience with my
mom really scared me because she got really sick.”
Now in his 50s, Tim is more cognizant of his health. By joining
forces with WHO PNEU? he hopes to drive greater awareness of
personal risk for pneumococcal pneumonia among his peers, beginning
with a preview of the campaign survey results that offer a glimpse
into what adults 50 to 75 are thinking about the disease, such
as:
- Only about half of adults 50 to 75
(53%) surveyed understand that pneumococcal pneumonia does not only
affect the very young and elderly. In fact, anyone can get
pneumococcal pneumonia anywhere and at any time, and the risk
increases as they get older.5
- Survey results showed that a majority
of respondents know the following is true about pneumococcal
pneumonia:
- 85 percent and 91 percent of
respondents recognize that vaccination and hand washing,
respectively, can help reduce the risk of getting pneumococcal
pneumonia.5
- The survey results also suggest a
misperception among respondents when it comes to ways to reduce the
risk of getting pneumococcal pneumonia.
- For instance, 36 percent think wearing
layers can help to reduce the risk of pneumococcal pneumonia.5
- And, a quarter (25 percent) think
holding their breath when someone coughs or sneezes around them can
help reduce risk.5
Adults over 50 can visit WhoPneu.com to take a personal
risk assessment for pneumococcal pneumonia, learn more about the
disease, view the video PSA and hear more of Tim’s personal
story.
###
About Pneumococcal Pneumonia
The most common form of bacterial pneumonia, pneumococcal
pneumonia is a serious lung1 disease caused by the Streptococcus
pneumoniae bacteria and is often spread through coughing or
sneezing, and close contact with an infected person.2 Common
symptoms may include difficulty breathing, excessive sweating, and
high fever with shaking and chills, a productive (mucus) cough that
persists or gets worse, and chest pain.1
About the WHO PNEU? Campaign and Survey
The American Lung Association in partnership with Pfizer
developed the WHO PNEU? campaign to educate adults 50 and
older about their risk for pneumococcal pneumonia, a serious lung
disease.2 The campaign’s mission is to raise awareness about
personal risk for pneumococcal pneumonia and encourage adults 50
and older to check with their doctors to see if they are up to date
on their vaccinations.
A national survey was conducted via telephone in the US by
Harris Poll on behalf of the American Lung Association and Pfizer
between June 22 and July 8, 2015. The research was conducted among
1000 adults aged 50 to 75. Results were weighted where necessary to
bring them into line with the actual proportion of the
population.
About the American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is the leading organization
working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung
disease, through research, education and advocacy. The work of the
American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives:
to defeat lung cancer; to improve the air we breathe; to reduce the
burden of lung disease on individuals and their families; and to
eliminate tobacco use and tobacco-related diseases. For more
information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the
Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the
work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit:
Lung.org.
Pfizer Inc: Working together for a healthier world™
At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring
therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their
lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value
in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care
products. Our global portfolio includes medicines and vaccines as
well as many of the world's best-known consumer health care
products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and
emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and
cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time.
Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier
innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health
care providers, governments and local communities to support and
expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world.
For more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference for
all who rely on us. To learn more, please visit: Pfizer.com.
References
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pneumococcal
Disease. Symptoms & Complications.
http://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/about/symptoms-complications.html.
Accessed December 4, 2013.2 Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Risk factors & transmission.
http://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/about/risk-transmission.html.
Updated June 6, 2013. Accessed May 11, 2015.3 Healthcare Cost and
Utilization Project (HCUP). April 2015. Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality, Rockville, MD.
http://www.ahrq.gov/research/data/hcup/index.html.4 Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. Epidemiology and Prevention of
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. The Pink Book: Course Textbook. 13th
edition. Washington, DC. 2015.5 Harris Poll. Pneumococcal Pneumonia
Survey, conducted via telephone by Harris Poll among US 50-75 year
olds on behalf of the American Lung Association in partnership with
Pfizer from June 22 to July 8, 2015.6 Weinberger B,
Herndler-Brandstetter D, Schwanninger A, Weiskopf D,
Grubeck-Loebenstein B. Biology of immune responses to vaccines in
elderly persons. Clin Infect Dis. 2008; 46(7):1078-1084.
doi:10.1086/529197.
View source
version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150930005458/en/
American Lung AssociationAllison MacMunn,
312-801-7628Media@Lung.orgorPfizer US MediaSally Beatty,
212-733-6566Sally.Beatty@pfizer.com
Pfizer (NYSE:PFE)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Pfizer (NYSE:PFE)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024