Indiana State Department of Health Partners with Indianapolis Colts Organization: Using Social Media and Public Health Messaging to Promote Influenza Vaccination, Hand Washing and Infectious Disease Awareness

BACKGROUND:   The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) and the NFL Indianapolis Colts partnered to promote an influenza vaccination, hand washing and infectious disease awareness campaign.  The name of the campaign is Join Blue Prevent the Flu.  The message of the campaign was to:

• Get Your Flu Shot
• Clean your Hands Often- Use soap and water
• Cover Your Cough and Sneeze Use a Tissue or Your Sleeve
• Contain Your Illness- Stay Home When You’re Sick

METHODS:   The Join Blue Prevent the Flu partnership used social media which included Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Gameday Recaps, and placement of our public health messaging to the Colts website.  Public health messaging was present at all events at Lucas Oil Stadium by the use of a video using a Colts player, Matt Hasselbeck as a flu spokesperson, mirror clings encouraging hand washing and a full page ad in the gameday program. The topics covered using social media were influenza vaccination, hand washing, Ebola call center number and a Shigella outbreak notification. This partnership included booth space at the Bleed Blue Blood Drive and Health Fair where the ISDH administered a knowledge, attitudes and beliefs survey about influenza vaccination to the health fair participants.  One hundred surveys were administered in 3 hours and respondents were asked to list one symptom of influenza, and 3 true or false questions about influenza.

RESULTS:   The Indianapolis Colts provided their social media analytics after every gameday recap. The gameday recap is a digital document with highlights from the Colts football game.  The analytics monitored were: reach, engagement, engagement rate and link clicks.  The ISDH has been able to reach over 6 million people through this Join Blue Prevent the Flu Campaign.   The total number comprises a documented reach using Twitter and Facebook of persons from 22 States, 50 U.S. cities, 10 international countries.  The knowledge attitudes and beliefs survey found that of the 100 respondents listed fever, cough, chills vomiting or body aches as a symptom of influenza.  Of the most common responses, 42 (48%) listed fever, 12 (14%) listed cough, 6(7%) listed chills and 4(5%) listed vomiting or body aches as a symptom of influenza.  Forty one( 47%) men and 46 (53%) women took part in the survey.

CONCLUSIONS:   The ISDH and Indianapolis Colts partnership has been able to document over 6 million people reached with public health messages related to this campaign.