Jennifer Garner: The New Face Of Influenza

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (October 17, 2007) - She's an actress, a Golden Globe winner, a mother, a wife. And now, Jennifer Garner can add a new title to her resume - the face of influenza.

Jen appears in a new public service announcement promoting the importance of flu shots for FacesOfInfluenza.org, which is operated by the American Lung Association.

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"Women play an important role in a family. It's our job to take care of those we love, that's why I make sure my family is protected against influenza," Jennifer said. "Look around, and you'll see someone in your life who should receive an influenza vaccination. There's the couple with young children, like my husband and I, or your parents, who are over 50 years of age, or your friend who will be pregnant during influenza season. It's also likely you know someone living with a serious medical condition, like asthma, COPD, heart disease, or diabetes. My own father has heart complications."

According to the Web site, approximately 226,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized each year from influenza and an average of 36,000 deaths result from the disease annually.

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"As one of the many Faces of Influenza, you and I and those close to us need to get vaccinated," Jennifer says in the PSA. "Influenza isn't the common cold - it's serious."

Garner married Ben Affleck in June 2005. The couple's only child, Violet, turns two years old in December.

She currently stars in the drama "The Kingdom," opposite Jamie Foxx and Chris Cooper. Her upcoming projects include the romantic comedy "The Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past," alongside Matthew McConaughey.