Image courtesy of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

The Montgomery County Immunization Coalition has announced its first digital flu campaign #ItCanHappenToAnybody.

In partnership with Families Fighting Flu (FFF), a statewide nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to honoring the memory of loved ones who have suffered serious health complications or died from the flu, the goal of the campaign is to raise awareness of the dangers of the flu and encourage Montgomery County residents to get their flu shot this season.

The #ItCanHappenToAnybody flu campaign focuses on Amanda’s story. Montgomery County native Alissa Kanowitz’s life changed dramatically 20 years ago when she lost her 4-year-old daughter to the flu. Amanda was a happy, healthy little girl who died from the flu just 48 hours after she first started experiencing symptoms.

In the short video, Alissa tells her story and how important it is to get your family vaccinated.

Alissa and her husband are founding members of Families Fighting Flu, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2024.

“We are so grateful to Families Fighting Flu and Alissa for sharing Amanda’s story with our residents,” said Beth Till, program manager at MCIC. “It’s so inspiring to see these families working to educate about the dangers of the flu and how we can protect our families through vaccinations.”

“Partnering with MCIC to raise awareness about the dangers of flu is a great example of the work that Alissa and the other founding families envisioned when they created Families Fighting Flu,” said Michele Slafkosky, executive director of FFF. “Alissa and all of our members are passionate about educating people about the risks of flu and the importance of disease prevention.”

In addition to the video, MCIC has created a virtual toolkit to support the awareness campaign and educate the public on the importance of flu vaccinations so you can protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, there were 8,803 cases of flu in Montgomery County during the 2023-2024 flu season.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone age 6 months and older get a flu shot annually. MCIC and its partners will be hosting community flu vaccination clinics in the coming weeks. Visit their website for more information.

About MCIC:

Founded in 2003, MCIC is comprised of a group of dedicated individuals representing various health and human services agencies, including public health and senior services, as well as schools, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, nonprofits, and community leaders throughout Montgomery County. Our mission is to promote age-appropriate immunizations across the lifespan for all Montgomery County residents.

About families battling the flu:

Founded in 2004, Families Fighting Flu (FFF) is a national nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to honoring loved ones who have suffered serious medical complications or died from the flu. The organization is celebrating 20 years of commitment to protecting children, families and all communities from the flu.