Sheryl Swoopes
Three Time Olympic Gold Medalist,
Basketball Star, and Mother
Legendary women's basketball player Sheryl Swoopes gets vaccinated against influenza every year to help protect herself as well as her son, Jordan, who lives with asthma.
"I can play basketball. But being a great mom — that's a lot harder. I take my responsibility very seriously. Since my son Jordan has asthma, I am especially careful about preventing influenza in our household. We're immunized every year. I encourage all moms to be vaccinated, and to make sure their partners, parents, and children get vaccinated, too."
Mothers should know the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual vaccination for children 6-59 months of age; pregnant women; people with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, weakened immune system, diabetes and others; people 50 years of age and older; caregivers and household contacts of these high-risk groups and generally, anyone, including school-aged children who wishes to reduce their risk of contracting influenza.1
Previously sidelined to injury, Sheryl knows first-hand how frustrating it can be to lose time and energy due to unexpected health challenges. The disease is easy to prevent, and she intends to keep her entire family influenza-free by encouraging annual influenza immunization.