Former “Modern Family” stars Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell certainly know how to make people laugh. And while they usually use their humorous ways to entertain, they’ve now reunited to share an important health-related message … in a silly way, of course.
“The stars, who played married couple Claire and Phil Dunphy on the Emmy-winning sitcom Modern Family for 11 seasons, have signed on as spokespersons for the Ask2BSure campaign — created by pharmaceutical and biotechnology company GSK — to raise awareness about meningitis and encourage parents to ‘ask to be sure’ about the risks of meningococcal disease,” according to People.
The Duo Uses Humor to Spread Awareness About Meningitis
GettyWhile Bowen and Burrell shared children on “Modern Family,” in real life, they’re both parents to their own teenagers.
“I think there’s a dance that most parents of teens know about trying to give them their independence, but also trying to keep them safe,” Burrell told People. “And at this particular age, 16 to 23, they’re vulnerable to a lot of different things. But specifically in this case, we’re talking about meningitis, and it’s no joke. And so it’s really on us. This is where we have to step in and have a conversation with the doctor.”
For those who are unaware, People explains that “meningitis is a serious illness that can cause permanent complications or death — sometimes within 24 hours — and disproportionately affects teens and young adults, particularly those ages 16 to 23.” This is why “GSK’s Ask2BSure campaign encourages parents of teens and young adults to ask their children’s doctors about meningitis risks and vaccination.”
In order to get the message out to the public, Bowen and Burrell can now be seen in a short called “The Mening-Itinerary,” which includes both cheeky humor and serious facts.
“We’ve made many silly things together, so it’s really fun to do that with this video, but on behalf of something that we think is important, which is this campaign,” Burrell noted. “And the campaign is really just trying to encourage parents of teens to reach out to their doctors and ask the questions about meningitis risk and about vaccinations.”
“We’re trying to make it light but informative,” Bowen explained. “And we also get to meet and talk to several survivors, parents and family members of people who did not make it. So it’s a serious thing, but we are trying to make it approachable and allow you to know that it’s okay to not know.”
“In the only way we know how, which is being idiots,” Burrell admitted, which prompted Bowen to agree, adding, “Ding! What he said.”
Bowen & Burrell Share Facts About Meningitis You Should Know
CanvaAlthough you may have heard of meningitis, you might not really know what it is. The Cleveland Clinic explains that “[m]eningitis is inflammation of the three tissues that surround your brain and spinal cord, the meninges. Another name for it is spinal meningitis. This condition can be life-threatening.”
Indeed, Burrell told People, “One in 10 teens and adults who get it don’t survive.”
“It’s very quick,” Bowen added. “It can be within 24 hours. And the survivors can also have limb loss and vision loss.”
Additionally, “Bowen says one of the biggest things she learned through the campaign was that there are different types of meningitis vaccinations — and that some parents may mistakenly assume their children are fully protected,” People mentions, noting that while “[s]ome teens may have received vaccinations for meningitis groups A, C, W, and Y,” they could “still be missing the meningitis B vaccination.”
“I looked at all my [children’s] vaccine cards, and I thought, ‘Oh, but there’s something about meningitis already on there,’” Bowen said. “You really need that meningitis B vaccine. And that’s what we’re here to tell people about because I didn’t know.”
