Brazilian, Argentine Soccer Players Join PAHO/WHO Vaccination Campaign

"Three popular soccer players from Brazil and Argentina appear in a new series of public service announcements (PSAs) that urge people to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their families from more than 20 dangerous diseases."

From the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO) website "Vaccination Week in the Americas, 26 April - 3 May 2014", three PSAs featuring vaccination advice from soccer players are airing in the Americas region. In Spanish and Portuguese, these players deliver messages intended to "raise awareness of the importance of being up to date on vaccines against diseases such as measles and rubella, especially in the lead-up to the 2014 FIFA [Fédération Internationale de Football Association] World Cup."

Because there is a risk of reintroducing measles and rubella, eliminated in the Americas since 2002 and 2003, respectively, due to intensified international travel and population movement associated with mass events like the World Cup, the importance of a population with up-to-date vaccinations is the focus of these PSAs. For example, of the 32 countries competing in the competition, 19 have had reported measles case in the past year. Juan Silveira Santos, "Dida" Nélson de Jesús e Silva, and Andrés D’Alessandro of Brazil’s Sport Club International soccer team were recruited to deliver these short messages:

• "To win a game, sometimes you have to play offense...Take the offense and get vaccinated because vaccination is your best shot."
• "Are your defenses ready?...In the game of life, vaccination improves your defenses and keeps you strong, healthy and protected."
• "If you love football like I do, you defend the goal with your life. Protect your life and your family’s too. Get vaccinated."

In addition, PAHO/WHO produced a 90-second video entitled The Americas VS. Measles and Rubella: One Shot to Win the Game. The video "urges travelers to get vaccinated at least two weeks before traveling to the World Cup games in Brazil to help keep measles and rubella out of the stadium and the Region of the Americas."

Public service announcements featuring soccer players in Vimeo are available in:          
    Mobile .MP4 file (480x270 / 1MB)
    HD - High Definition .MP4 file (1280x720 / 8MB)
    SD - Standard Definition .MP4 file (640x360 / 3MB)