- Meningococcal meningitis is a rare but deadly contagious disease that can develop quickly and cause death within a day.
- Teenagers and young adults are at increased risk of developing it.
- Molly Ringwald is using her popularity as a teen idol to spread awareness about protecting teenagers with the meningococcal vaccine.
Molly Ringwald will forever stay 16 to many movie lovers. Her roles in iconic films like “Sixteen Candles” and “The Breakfast Club” brought a relatable side of teenage life to the big screen.
Now, as a mom to a teenager and two pre-teens, Ringwald is using her stardom to bring awareness to meningococcal meningitis, a rare but serious infection of the thin lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
She partnered with The 16 Vaccine campaign, launched by the National Meningitis Association and Sanofi, to talk about how vaccination is the best defense against meningococcal meningitis, and the importance of receiving the second dose of the MenACWY vaccine at age 16.
“I felt like it was a natural fit… one of the great things about being so well known for these movies is that I really do have a platform to talk about meningococcal meningitis, which most people don’t even think about. Particularly after this year everyone has been through, it’s not really on anyone’s radar,” Ringwald told Healthline.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
“Vaccines are a vital part of child healthcare because they prevent some of the most serious infections. A child who misses a vaccine remains vulnerable and at risk indefinitely, even into adulthood,” Dr. Robert Amler, dean of New York Medical College School of Health Sciences and Practice and a former CDC chief medical officer, told Healthline. “If your child’s regular schedule has lapsed, don’t panic, but catch up as soon as you can.”
Source: healthline