Doctors in Congress Launch Flu Shot PSA

(Washington, D.C., November 30, 2021) – Today, a group of Republican doctors and other health care providers serving in Congress launched a public service campaign to encourage the American people to get their flu shot saying in part, “We are expecting a particularly tough flu season this winter. Why? Because we all have built up less natural immunity against this year’s flu since so few of us were infected with the flu last year… Every year over 150 million Americans are vaccinated from the flu and thousands of lives are saved… So it’s obvious to me from a medical standpoint, the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones, is to take action and get your flu shot today.”

You may click HERE or on the image below to watch the PSA.

Members participating include Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (KS) and Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (IA), Earl “Buddy” Carter RPh (GA), Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN), and Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC).

In April, Senator Marshall led a group of doctors and other health care providers in Congress in launching a public service campaign to boost COVID-19 vaccine participation. You may click HERE to watch the PSA.

Full text of Flu Shot PSA:

I come to you today, not only as a United States Congressman, but as a physician concerned about your health and the health of our nation.

Today, I want to talk to you about a simple healthy choice you can make in order to maintain a healthy life: getting your flu shot.

It is recommended that all Americans six months and older receive a flu shot this winter as soon as possible. And yes, they are available now across the country at your doctor’s office, your local pharmacy, or your community health department.

Listen… We are expecting a particularly tough flu season this winter.

Why? Because we all have built up less natural immunity against this year’s flu since so few of us were infected with the flu last year. Some folks call this immunity debt, which occurs because peo­ple avoided each other dur­ing the pan­demic and failed to build up the im­mu­nity against viruses that come from nor­mal con­tact.

Look, I’ve been recommending the flu shot for my patients for decades. We know the flu shot is safe and it’s effective in reducing sickness, Emergency Room and office visits, hospitalizations, and deaths.

It has been saving lives for… well, since 1945. Yes, it was actually 1945 when the first flu shot was licensed for civilian use in the United States.

Every year over 150 million Americans are vaccinated from the flu and thousands of lives are saved. And…over a hundred thousand hospitalizations are prevented by making this healthy choice.  

If you have any concerns or questions, be sure to call your doctor’s office or your friendly, knowledgeable Pharmacist. I think you will find doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, nationwide recommend the flu shot for their patients.

Along with eating smart, avoiding stress, getting over seven hours of sleep and exercising daily, a flu shot is part of making healthy choices and living a healthy lifestyle.

So it’s obvious to me from a medical standpoint, the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones, is to take action and get your flu shot today!

I hope you’ll join me, along with millions of Americans, in getting your flu shot this year so we can all stay healthy.

###