The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is sponsoring a 2009 Flu Prevention PSA Contest, informally referred to herein as the Swine Flu YouTube Contest, with a grand prize payout of $2500. Its purpose is to help increase and renew awareness about H1N1 influenza A and promote the Flu.gov website.
The flu prevention video contest runs July 9 to August 17, with added contest details listed below. 
Though a swine flu YouTube contest may ellicit visions of green-tinted faces grimacing in pain with bodies curled up fetus-style from stomach pain, the criteria is a bit more light-hearted.
In an innovative undertaking by HHS, the PSA video submission calls for content that will “inform and motivate people to take steps that will help prevent the spread of H1N1 flu.” Also, the video should be “fun, smart and entertaining.”
Though it's difficult to imagine that more swine flu awareness is needed, in reality, public interest has largely waned.
Come this Fall and influenza season, the pandemic is expected to be considerably worse than has been seen so far. Concerning unknowns such as viral mutations must also be considered. Just this week another Tamiflu-resistant patient was discovered, the first in the U.S. Projections on the number of expected swine flu cases are serious, both in the U.S. and worldwide.
Consequently, current information about swine flu prevention, treatment, vaccinations and epidemiology remains important to lessening the impact of the pandemic. The 2009 Flu Prevention PSA Contest makes such information a bit more accessible and entertaining for the YouTube generation, for starters.
It's a nice move by the HHS. Compare the contest call with the 1976 swine flu propoganda video to see how far we have come.
How to enter the Swine Flu PSA YouTube Contest?
The full details of the 2009 Flu Prevention PSA Contest entry requirements and judging criteria can be viewed at Flu.gov.
To recap the essentials:
- Contest is open to U.S. residents aged 14 and over.
- The swine flu PSA video must be 0:15, 0:30 or 0:60 seconds long. (An entry for each video length is allowed). Flu.gov must have a visual mention (www.flu.gov) at the close of the video.
- Content should be informative and entertaining and motivate people to take steps that will help prevent the spread of H1N1 flu.
- A YouTube account is required
- Post the entry as a video reply to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ call for contest entries (video below). Once posted, you must complete an online entry form.
- No music is allowed in the video and the submission may not be previously published.
- Common sense entry requirements involving copyright infringements, offensive material and hate speech are listed on the official site.
- Verify the full contest details before entry.
Contest: Create a Flu Video & Be Eligible to Win $2500
(YouTube link)
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