Washington, D.C. (September 12, 2024) — LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services, is partnering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) new national campaign—Risk Less. Do More.—to raise awareness of the latest vaccines for influenza (flu), COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). LeadingAge and HHS will work together to provide important information on these common respiratory viruses and on the latest vaccines to all residents of the United States, especially those at highest risk of severe illness.
“ LeadingAge is committed to ensuring the health and safety of older Americans and the people that care for them,” said Katie Smith Sloan, the organization’s president and CEO. “The Risk Less. Do More. campaign will help our nonprofit, mission-driven provider members educate the older adults and families they serve about the vaccines for these illnesses, which in turn, will improve the health of their entire community.”
As part of the partnership, LeadingAge will share Risk Less. Do More. research-based campaign messages and materials with members so they can inform and protect their communities from highly contagious respiratory viruses.
“HHS is proud to partner with LeadingAge. The activities and events we will be collaborating on will help the campaign reach people across the country,” said May Malik, deputy assistant secretary for Public Affairs for Public Education at HHS. “As we know, vaccines are our best defense against flu, COVID-19, and RSV. Our goal with this partnership is to provide accurate and timely information so that the American people can make informed decisions about getting vaccinated this fall and winter.”
Flu, COVID-19, and RSV continue to take a heavy toll across the United States. During a 6-month period during the 2023-2024 fall and winter seasons, last fall and winter, these infections caused 800,000 hospitalizations. Without immunization, the risk of serious illness remains highest among adults ages 65 and older, residents of long-term care homes, pregnant people, and those living in rural areas. Some racial and ethnic groups, including Black and Hispanic people in the United States, are also at higher risk.
Learn about LeadingAge’s involvement here. Visit RiskLessDoMore.hhs.gov for more information on the Risk Less. Do More. campaign. For additional information on LeadingAge, visit leadingage.org.
