The Office of the Mayor of New York City Proclaims August 20, 2009 Pertussis Awareness Day
March of Dimes, Sanofi Pasteur and Actress/Mother, Jennifer Lopez Urge Adults to Get Tdap Booster to Prevent Whooping Cough

What: Sounds of Pertussis Exhibit in Support of National Immunization Awareness Month
When: Thursday, August 20, 2009; 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Where: Military Island in Times Square (between 43rd and 44th Streets on Broadway)
Photo Opps: Giant costumed replicas of the Bordetella pertussis bacterium interacting with consumers; consumers playing a transmission toss game

The Sounds Of Pertussis Event:
Sounds of Pertussis is a national public awareness campaign that urges adults to get vaccinated with a pertussis booster. This act may prevent adults from contracting pertussis, which is also known as whooping cough, and spreading the disease to the babies in their lives. The Sounds of Pertussis exhibit will be at Military Island in Times Square throughout the day on August 20, 2009. The exhibit will include: large screen TVs playing English and Spanish public service announcements (PSA) featuring spokesperson Jennifer Lopez; a pertussis transmission toss game; and information about pertussis and adult immunization. Giant costumed replicas of the Bordetella pertussis bacterium will be in the area to encourage interest in the event.

About Pertussis:
+ Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease characterized by severe coughing, and is particularly dangerous for babies who have not yet been fully immunized against the disease.
+ Infants are more vulnerable to severe pertussis and face the possibility of serious complications, including death.
+ Immunity from the childhood pertussis vaccine wanes over time, and, unfortunately, most adults are not aware they need to get a tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) booster to help protect themselves and their babies.
+ Research has shown that in about half of the cases where a source could be identified, pertussis was transmitted to infants by a parent, and the disease has been on the rise over the past few decades.

About National Immunization Awareness Month:
National Immunization Awareness Month is designated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each August as the prefect time to remind family, friends, co-workers, and those in the community to catch up on their vaccinations. Communities are encouraged to plan local health screenings or fairs, media events and other related immunization outreach efforts during the month of August to promote the benefits of immunization. Immunization is one of the most significant public health achievements of the 20th century. Vaccines have eradicated smallpox, eliminated wild poliovirus in the United States, and significantly reduced the number of cases of measles, diphtheria, rubella, pertussis and other diseases.

But despite these efforts, people in the U.S. still die from some of these and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

Additional Resources: Visit www.soundsofpertussis.com for more information on the Campaign. Additional features available at http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/pertussis/36734/{enclose dr_alan_fleischman_01.mp4}

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