By NBA.com staff
Posted Feb 24 2009 6:46AM
The NBA and WNBA, in collaboration with the Society for Adolescent Medicine and sanofi pasteur (the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis, an international pharmaceuticals company), tipped off a new campaign on Monday that will aim to educate teens on the importance of being vaccinated.
Hall of Famer Bob Lanier, representing NBA Cares, joined Suns forward Grant Hill in front of more than 200 students at Cordova Middle School in Phoenix, Ariz., to launch the initiative, entitled Vaccines for Teens (www.vaccinesforteens.com). They were joined by Dr. Richard E. Kreipe, the president of the Society for Adolescent Medicine (SAM), and John Kach, a survivor of meningococcal meningitis.
| Related Video |
Grant Hill encourages teens to get vaccinated in this public service announcement.  Play :30 |
Teens are especially at risk in contacting serious diseases such as meningitis, influenza and whooping cough. The diseases can spread from person to person during everyday activities. Vaccination is a safe and effective way to help protect teens.
Vaccines for Teens is a national multimedia campaign that will include public service announcements featuring Hill, Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie, Pistons guard Richard Hamilton and NBA legend George Gervin.
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