The NBA and the WNBA are collaborating with the Society for Adolescent Medicine (SAM) and sanofi pasteur on Vaccines for Teens, a national program designed to help educate parents and their teens about the importance of getting vaccinated. One of the NBA’s legends, George Gervin, aka “The Iceman”, got involved.

You can find the full press release at http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS206644+30-Oct-2009+PRN20091030, with an excerpt below.

(Excerpt)

Spurs Legend George Gervin Joins New Vaccines for Teens Educational Campaign to Help San Antonio Teens Take Their Best Shot at Health

Basketball Superstar Urges Local Teens to Stay in the Game and Get Vaccinated – It’s More Important Than Ever

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ — NBA Legend and Basketball Hall of Famer George Gervin teamed up with NBA Cares and the Society for Adolescent Medicine (SAM) today to bring Vaccines for Teens to the San Antonio community. Vaccines for Teens is a national multimedia campaign designed to educate teens and their parents about the importance of vaccination against serious and potentially life-threatening diseases.

To tip off the campaign in San Antonio, Gervin appeared at the George Gervin Academy to urge local parents of preteens and teens to discuss adolescent vaccinations with their family physicians.

Teens are at risk for influenza disease, both seasonal and the A (H1N1) influenza virus, as well for other serious infectious diseases such as meningococcal meningitis and whooping cough (pertussis).  The basketball superstar and local community leaders agree it is more important than ever to help protect preteens and teens in the San Antonio area from the potentially life-threatening complications of these diseases.

“Vaccination can help teens grow into healthy adults, and is beneficial for our students at the George Gervin Academy and for teens throughout the San Antonio area,” said George Gervin.  “In basketball, the best offense is a good defense, and the same holds true for protecting teen health.”

(The press release continues at http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS206644+30-Oct-2009+PRN20091030)

To get a glimpse of The Iceman back in the day, check out the following.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWqyvOGQ7MI]