Jennifer Garner

Actress, Mother
National Faces of Influenza Spokesperson

Jennifer Garner is one of today's most popular actresses. She is also a wife and mother who places great value on her family's health and well-being. That includes protecting her loved ones from influenza and its related complications through annual immunization.

"Women play an important role in a family. It's our job to take care of those we love, that's why I make sure my family is protected against influenza," Jennifer says.

Nearly everyone in Jennifer's life is a "face" of influenza, one of many people who should be immunized against influenza every year. That includes herself, her husband, and their baby daughter; her mom and dad; her grandparents and great grandparents; even the doctors and nurses who care for them.

The list goes on and on. That's because more than 2 out of every 3 Americans are recommended to receive annual influenza immunization. But most are not aware they need the vaccine.

To increase awareness about the importance of annual influenza immunization, Jennifer joins the American Lung Association as national spokesperson for the Faces of Influenza campaign. She wants to educate Americans that vaccination is a safe and effective way to prevent influenza and its complications. Most importantly, Jennifer wants each of us to see ourselves as a "face" of influenza and to ask our health-care providers about getting vaccinated.

"Look around, and you'll see someone in your life who should receive an influenza vaccination. There's the couple with young children, like my husband and I, or your parents, who are over 50 years of age, or your friend who will be pregnant during influenza season. It's also likely you know someone living with a serious medical condition, like asthma, COPD, heart disease, or diabetes. My own father has heart complications."

People don't realize how serious influenza can be. Each year, approximately 226,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized and an average of 36,000 die from the disease and its complications.

"As one of the many Faces of Influenza, you and I and those close to us need to get vaccinated," Jennifer says.