The threat of contagions and/or global pandemics is ever-present as illustrated by Ebola and now the Zika virus. But closer to home, vaccination rates for some diseases are not meeting national public health goals, with mumps, whooping cough, and measles on the rise among other preventable diseases that were once eradicated in the US. The anti-vax movement is influencing a new generation of Americans, increasing the risk for people of all ages, while a relaxed attitude or sheer lack of information about proper immunizations at all stages of life further contributes to new hospitalizations and deaths.
In this climate of disinformation, we needed a simple icon to telegraph the ease of infection and drum up the urgency to vaccinate against an array of illnesses. And we found it: human sponges. We produced 4 posters in English and Spanish with “sponge people” silhouetted in familiar close contact positions. Because sponges are dirty and can carry all sorts of pathogens, they are a fresh metaphor to drive the point for 3 key demographics: pregnant mothers and their unborn children, school-age children and teens, and adults. The call to action was direct: Don't be a sponge for infectious diseases. Vaccinate.
