Posted by Melissa Burlaga

The campaign encourages parents to “stop the spread” of the H1N1 virus by immunizing their children and family.

It also directs them to flu.wisconsin.gov which contains information about vaccine safety, frequently asked questions about H1N1, and a link to the 2-1-1 vaccine clinic locator.

“In the coming weeks, we will protect thousands of Wisconsin school children with a vaccination that is safe and effective. If you get your seasonal flu vaccine every year, there’s no reason not to get an H1N1 vaccination – they’re manufactured the same way,” said DHS Secretary Karen Timberlake. “Now is a perfect time to get your family vaccinated and protect yourself against the H1N1 virus.”

State officials indicate they are just as concerned about increasing awareness that the vaccine is available as they are with monitoring the increasing H1N1 vaccine supply.

So far, Wisconsin has received more than one million doses of the vaccine and has been getting weekly shipments of between 125,000 and 200,000 doses.

On November 23rd, state officials directed public and private health care providers to resume vaccinations for school age children and young adults.

“We have reached a point in Wisconsin where we are able to return to our original target groups. However, now that we have more of the vaccine, we must focus on making sure everyone who needs to be vaccinated shows up to receive it,” said Timberlake.

Beginning Monday, television and radio ads will be running across the state for the next three weeks and will run as a public service announcement in the month of January.

Radio ads are running in English, Spanish and Hmong.

DHS is also advertising online and will have outdoor advertising on both billboards and buses in various parts of the state.

The total cost of the campaign is $500,000 and is funded with federal H1N1 response dollars.

Laughlin-Constable of Milwaukee produced the ads and coordinated the statewide placement.