- Advocacy
2 Protects 2 Program Launches to Empower Expectant Mothers
Posted on January 19, 2021
Families Fighting Flu is excited to announce the launch of the 2 Protects 2 educational program in collaboration with the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey (Partnership).
The goal of this program is to promote flu and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccinations during pregnancy as these diseases pose significant risk to pregnant women and infants. These two vaccinations during pregnancy can protect two people –both mother and baby. Vaccination during pregnancy is important because babies cannot be vaccinated for the flu until they are 6 months of age or older.
Families Fighting Flu Chief Operating Officer Serese Marotta kicked off the new campaign during a Facebook Live event with representatives from the Partnership.
“We know how devastating the flu and whooping cough, pertussis, can be for infants and mothers. We wanted to really work together to educate people about what they can do, how can we empower patients and professionals, to help reduce hospitalizations and deaths for moms and babies associated to both the flu and whooping cough,” said Serese.
The 2 Protects 2 program offers free downloadable materials in both English and Spanish including a fact sheet (8.5” x 11” poster), bookmark, and postcards. While these educational materials are appropriate for all pregnant women, they were created to also address specific vaccination concerns for African American and Latina communities. Healthcare professionals, doctors’ offices, hospitals and clinics are encouraged to print and share the information with patients.
According the CDC, only one in three U.S. pregnant women receive both the flu and whooping cough vaccines. Newborns less than six months of age have the highest rate of flu-related hospitalization and death among children.
Serese added, “There is room for improvement, and we want to make sure that those pregnant moms know what’s available to them to help reduce those diseases.”
Watch the full Facebook Live event or learn more here.
This program is made possible through an educational grant from GlaxoSmithKline.
