UNDERSTANDING OLDER ADULT RISK

“Encouraging conversations around the risk of RSV among older adults will help increase the understanding and awareness for this group.”

–Dr. Len, VP and Director, Scientific Affairs and Public Health, Vaccines at GSK

Ever play the schoolyard game of H-O-R-S-E? Hit the court for a friendly game of “R-S-V” with Magic Johnson and Dr. Leonard Friedland to get the facts about RSV and help you understand the risks.

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    TEXT ON SCREEN:
    EARVIN 'MAGIC' JOHNSON
    SIDELINE RSV SPOKESPERSON

    TEXT ON SCREEN:
    DR. LEN FRIEDLAND
    GSK

    DR. LEN FRIEDLAND: "Hey Magic, great to see ya!"

    MR. JOHNSON: "You too, Dr. Len! Now you're sure you want to be out here on this basketball court with me, you know."

    DR. FRIEDLAND: "Well, I thought it would be more fun to come here and have a friendly game than to talk in the office."

    MR. JOHNSON: "Oh."

    DR. FRIEDLAND: "You school me in 'Horse'…"

    MR. JOHNSON: "Uh huh."

    DR. FRIEDLAND: "And I'll school you in some stuff about RSV, some important information!"

    TEXT ON SCREEN:
    RSV RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS

    MR. JOHNSON: "I like that."

    DR. FRIEDLAND: "Let's call it R-S-V."

    MR. JOHNSON: "Okay."

    DR. FRIEDLAND: "Because then it'd be like a shorter game and that'd be a lot easier for me."

    MR. JOHNSON: "Okay well you hold on to that, I'm gonna run over here take my jacket off. Alright Doctor Len, let me go first, Okay?"

    DR. FRIEDLAND: "You got it!"

    MR. JOHNSON: "Alright, lot of pressure, a lot of pressure…Oh, money oh, woo! I think I still got it. OK now talk to me about RSV, what is it?"

    TEXT ON SCREEN:
    IT'S A COMMON, CONTAGIOUS VIRUS THAT INFECTS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES INCLUDING PEOPLE 65 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER.

    DR. FRIEDLAND: "RSV is respiratory syncytial virus, it's a common, contagious virus that infects people of all ages, including people 65 years of age and older."

    MR. JOHNSON: "Now, can it cause serious infection though?"

    DR. FRIEDLAND: "It certainly can, especially in older adults. Magic, every year in the United States it's estimated that 177,000 adults over the age of 65 are hospitalized due to RSV."

    TEXT ON SCREEN:
    177,000
    HOSPITALIZED
    FROM RSV

    MR. JOHNSON: "Wow."

    DR. FRIEDLAND: "And believe it or not, of those hospitalized, 14,000 older adults die of RSV every year in the US."

    TEXT ON SCREEN:
    14,000
    DEATHS FROM RSV

    MR. JOHNSON: "Well, Doctor Len, thank you for that information I'm glad you told us all that. Let's see if you could put the ball in the basket. How about that?"

    TEXT ON SCREEN: FOR ADULTS 60 AND OLDER, SOME DATA SUGGEST THAT THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK FOR SEVERE RSV INFECTION THAT CAN LEAD TO HOSPITALIZATION.

    (Gameboard appears)
    MAGIC JOHNSON
    DR. LEN
    Sideline RSV logo

    DR. FRIEDLAND: "Okay, well it's for R, let's see!"

    MR. JOHNSON: "Oh! You got an R, my man! It's a three pointer, it's gonna be tough, okay?"

    DR. FRIEDLAND: "Let's see it."

    MR. JOHNSON: "Oh, money! Oh good."

    DR. FRIEDLAND: "Woo! That was nice."

    MR. JOHNSON: "Now, tell me about adults with underlying conditions."

    DR. FRIEDLAND: "Well Magic, adults with certain underlying medical conditions like COPD, asthma, chronic heart failure are at increased risk for severe RSV infection."

    TEXT ON SCREEN:
    CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE
    ASTHMA
    CHRONIC HEART FAILURE

    MR. JOHNSON: "Okay, guess what? You gotta hit that 3 pointer. If not, you got S!"

    DR. FRIEDLAND: "I don't know if I can match you!"

    MR. JOHNSON: "Lot of pressure on you!"

    DR. FRIEDLAND: "Let's try!"

    MR. JOHNSON: "Come on you gotta make a basket! Oh, that's S! You only got one more man! Right over here, okay?

    DR. FRIEDLAND: "You got it."

    MR. JOHNSON: "Alright, let me go and win the game. Oh man!

    DR. FRIEDLAND: "Woo!"

    MR. JOHNSON: "Oh man! Okay guess what? It's your shot, sir."

    DR. FRIEDLAND: "Okay."

    MR. JOHNSON: "I can win on this shot if you miss!"

    DR. FRIEDLAND: "Okay I'm gonna try my best."

    MR. JOHNSON: "Oh! RSV!" Laughter

    DR. FRIEDLAND: "Lot of fun."

    MR. JOHNSON: "Yes, sir."

    TEXT ON SCREEN:
    Adults ages 60 and older, speak to your pharmacist or healthcare provider about RSV infection and vaccination

    Sideline RSV logo
    Visit SidelineRSV.com
    #SidelineRSV
    Earvin "Magic" Johnson is compensated by GSK for Sideline RSV

    Intended for US audiences only.
    Trademarks are owned by or licensed to the GSK group of companies.

    GSK signal logo
    ©2023 GSK or licensor.
    RSAVID230015 May 2023
    Produced in USA.

A headshot of Dr. Len Friedland

MEET DR. LEN

Dr. Leonard Friedland, Vice President, Director Scientific Affairs and Public Health at GSK Vaccines, is passionate about public health and raising awareness about infectious disease risk and preventative options including vaccines.