This week is National Influenza Vaccination Week and Friday, December 10 is Young Adult Vaccination Day. Young adults were hit particularly hard by the H1N1 flu virus that caused so much illness last flu season. This virus is expected to continue circulating during the 2010-2011 flu season, along with other influenza viruses.

Below is an article drafted by CDC that highlights the importance of vaccination for Young Adults. You are welcome to reprint the article in your publication.

Don’t Wait – Vaccinate

This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending flu vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older. Even healthy adults 19 through 24 years of age should get vaccinated.

Life can get pretty hectic sometimes. Whether it’s school, work, or your social life, you probably think you have other, more important things to do than get vaccinated against the flu. Last season, the flu attacked adults 19-24 years of age much more than usual, which resulted in missed classes, missed work, and far worse–trips to the ER, hospitalization, or even death.

Fortunately, there’s a quick and easy way for you to protect yourself, and to keep from spreading the flu to friends and family. Get a flu vaccine. One shot or nasal spray will help protect you against the three strains of virus predicted to cause illness this season—including the 2009 H1N1 strain, which is still circulating.

If you think you don’t have time to get vaccinated, think again! It’s easier than ever to get a flu vaccine. And if you ’re healthy, you can get the nasal spray if you’re afraid of needles! You usually don’t even need a doctor’s appointment. Most pharmacies, drugstores, and supermarkets offer walk-in clinics that are usually very quick and have convenient hours. In addition, most university clinics offer free or reduced-price flu vaccination for students. But the longer you wait, the longer the lines are likely to be. Flu vaccine is now available in various locations. So don’t wait–vaccinate.

The few minutes it will take you to get a flu vaccine is much shorter than the days you might have to take off from school, work, or both if you get sick with the flu. It takes about two weeks to build immunity against flu, so it’s important to act now in order to be fully protected by the time flu outbreaks begin. By immunizing yourself against flu you’ll help protect your family, friends, classmates, and co-workers, too.

NEW YORK (Dec. 8, 2010) – Effie Worldwide, which recognizes, encourages and provides education on effectiveness among the marketing communications industry, today announced its call for entries for the second annual Collegiate Effie Competition.

Expanding on last year’s inaugural competition, undergraduate college students will have the opportunity to select from two challenges in 2011. Heineken USA, who jointly developed and launched the competition in 2010, will task students age 21 and older with developing a program that addresses the importance of responsible activities related to drinking in a public service announcement (PSA) campaign.

New this year will be a brand challenge in which students will have the opportunity to submit a launch campaign for MINI USA’s newest model, the MINI Countryman.

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Modeled after the Effie North America competition, the Collegiate Effie competition will give undergraduate students a chance to create marketing communication cases that address real world challenges for real world marketers,” said Mary Lee Keane, President of Effie Worldwide. “We are lucky to have such innovative partners in Heineken USA and MINI USA, as they are open to new perspectives and creative ideas for their respective brands.”

Reinforcing Personal Responsibility: Heineken USA Public Service Challenge

For the second consecutive year, the public service announcement challenge will feature responsibility initiatives led by Heineken USA. In the 2011 program, entrants will be challenged to create a campaign that will encourage adult consumers to learn, understand, download and use the Taxi Magic mobile application as an innovative option to secure a safe ride home after an evening out and avoid drinking and driving. In order to be eligible to participate in the PSA Challenge, students must be 21 or older by January 1, 2011 and currently enrolled full time in an undergraduate program.

“We were encouraged by the strong response to last year’s program and felt it was important to continue to play a part in the personal and social education of today’s college students,” said Dan Tearno, senior vice president and chief corporate relations officer, Heineken USA. “At the heart of our corporate values is a belief that we have an important role to play in promoting and ensuring responsible behavior related to alcohol consumption. This program allows us to tap into some of the brightest new minds in advertising to ensure that we continue to effectively spread awareness around this issue.”

Experiencing a Product Launch: MINI USA Brand Challenge

The inaugural Collegiate Effie Brand Challenge will focus on the January 2011 U.S. launch of the MINI Countryman, the first 4-door, available all-wheel drive vehicle to join the MINI family. Undergraduate students will be challenged to create an integrated, multi-channel marketing campaign that drives awareness and consideration of the Countryman among 20- to 30-year-olds.

“Our partnership with the Effie Collegiate Program helps identify future marketing leaders while offering fresh insight and ways to effectively reach and engage with the next generation of MINI enthusiasts,” said Trudy Hardy, Head of MINI Marketing, MINI USA. “Effies’ holistic and strategic marketing approach provides students the platform for developing solid ideas, and we anticipate bringing some of their ideas to life into the MINI Countryman marketing efforts.”

Qualifying campaigns will be reviewed and judged by industry professionals representing expertise in various disciplines, including creative, strategic planning, media strategy, branding, marketing and social media. Finalists in both competitions will have the opportunity to present their programs to senior members of the corporate sponsors’ marketing teams.

Entries for both competitions are due no later than March 3, 2011. Judging will occur in April and presentations will be in May.

To download the 2011 entry kits, visit www.effie.org/collegiate

About Effie Worldwide

Effie Worldwide stands for effectiveness in marketing communications, spotlighting marketing ideas that work and encouraging thoughtful dialogue about the ever-changing marketing industry. The Effie network works with some of the top research and media organizations worldwide to bring its audience relevant and first-class insights into effective marketing strategy. This has taken shape in webinars, white papers, global conferences, winner showcases and more.

The Effie Awards are known by advertisers and agencies globally as the pre-eminent award in the industry, and recognize any and all forms of marketing communication that contribute to a brand’s success. Since 1968, winning an Effie has become a global symbol of achievement. Today, Effie celebrates effectiveness worldwide with the Global Effie, the Euro Effie, the Middle East / North Africa Effie and more than 40 national Effie programs. For more details, visit www.effie.org. Follow @effieawards on Twitter for updates on Effie information, programs and news.

About Heineken USA

Heineken USA Inc., the nation’s premier beer importer, is a subsidiary of Heineken International BV, which is the world’s most international brewer. European brands imported into the U.S. include Heineken Lager, the world’s most international beer brand; Heineken Light; Amstel Light, a leading imported light beer brand; Newcastle Brown Ale, the leading imported ale in the United States; and Buckler non-alcoholic brew. Heineken USA is also the exclusive USA importer for the Tecate, Tecate Light, Dos Equis, Sol, Carta Blanca and Bohemia brands from Mexico. For a safe ride home, download the Heineken USA-sponsored Taxi Magic™ application from your smartphone at taximagic.heineken.com. Please visit www.EnjoyHeinekenResponsibly.com.

MINI in the US

MINI is an independent brand of the BMW Group. In the United States, MINI USA operates as a business unit of BMW of North America, LLC which has been present in the United States since 1975. Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 and X3 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 336 BMW Sports Activity Vehi cle centers, 143 BMW motorcycle retailers, 100 MINI passenger car dealers, and 31 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at: www.bmwgroupna.com

In Steve Jobs’ world, traditional marriage is “offensive to large groups of people.”

At least, that’s what his Apple PR department told half a million Christians – signers of the pro-life, pro-marriage, pro-religious freedom Manhattan Declaration, whose app the company pulled from its app store just last week.

The app, originally awarded a 4+ “no objectionable material” rating by Apple, was removed over the protests of some 7,000 petitioners on “anti-gay, anti-choice” charges (this despite 30,000+ concerned consumers who in fewer than 24 hours signed a counter-petition to reinstate the app to Apple’s online store).

This puts the Manhattan Declaration in the inestimable company of other Apple-banned apps such as the disturbingly violent Baby Shaker game, Wobble’s boob-jingling app, the anti-Muslim iSlam Mohammed (curiously, the anti-Christian BibleThumper app remains in the App Store), and numerous other applications depicting graphic sexual content.

Is it just me, or does something seem awfully inconsistent here?

What’s most puzzling about Apple’s reversal of company policy is that if you actually read the Manhattan Declaration, it’s hard to find anything in the statement of conscience that could even be construed as “hate speech.” Rather, the document explicitly affirms the “profound, inherent and equal dignity” of all human beings – gays and straights alike.

It’s saddening to know that a reputable company like Apple – one whose very innovations espouse the virtues of an open, networked society – would choose to stifle reasoned and civil discussion of faith-based, cultural beliefs. After all, disagreement over the definition of traditional marriage isn’t “hate” any more than the 2,000-year-old teachings of mainstream Christianity are “offensive.”

Surely, Apple has the right to decide what to and what not to offer on its store. But Apple’s selective, subjective censorship of apps like the Manhattan Declaration’s should give us pause.

In the end, the debate over Apple’s unfounded decision to remove the Manhattan Declaration app isn’t just about one app and the so-called controversy surrounding it. It’s not even about political correctness and Apple’s disproportionate response to this should-be non-issue. It’s about honoring the value of free speech and openness to ideas on which our culture and nation were founded.

Wouldn’t it be great if Apple practiced the same kind of free-market, democratic ideals that allowed them to rise to the pinnacle of the technology industry?

Too bad there’s not an app for that.

This opinion piece was written by Chandler Epp, a senior at Georgia Institute of Technology majoring in International Affairs and Spanish. You can reach him at chandler.epp@gatech.edu.

MAYNARD, Mass., December 6, 2010 – As the holidays approach, many Americans are flocking to malls and scouring online stores for gifts for teenagers, who are notorious for being difficult to shop for– or are they? Fastweb, owned by Monster Worldwide, Inc., parent company of Monster.com®, the leading job matching engine (NYSE: MWW), recently surveyed its members to ask, “What gift do you want most for the holidays?,” and found that more than half of the respondents wanted money for college.

“Every year more teenagers are worried about paying for college, and there are many ways their friends and relatives can help,” said Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of Fastweb and nationally recognized expert on student financial aid. “For the holidays, friends and family can contribute to the student’s 529 college savings plan and help them search for scholarships. Every dollar saved or won is a dollar less the student will need to borrow to pay for their education.”

Fastweb surveyed 527 high school and college students, and found that only 12% wanted the newest technology gadgets for the holidays and 6% were thinking big and wanted a new car. While 20% wanted gift certificates, more than twice as many respondents (54%) were hoping for money for college. As a top web site for scholarship and financial aid information, one in three college-bound seniors visit Fastweb looking for financial assistance for school.

Giving the gift of money for college also saves loved ones from the embarrassment of giving a disappointing gift. Fastweb asked its users, “What is the worst gift you’ve ever received?,” and got some entertaining responses. The Fastweb “Top Ten Worst Gifts” hall of fame, made up of actual survey responses, include:

• A wooden stick doll without any eyes.
• An Eggstractor.
• A used led pencil.
• Toilet paper.
• A can of sardines.
• Coal.
• A calendar for 2009 that was given in December 2009.
• Q-tips.
• A box of gum.
• A dead mouse.

Other statistics from the Fastweb poll revealed that besides wanting money for college, some of the “most wanted” gift trends this holiday season include tablets, laptops, popular cell phones, MP3 players, and gaming systems. Also, 51% of respondents planned on working this holiday season, either to save money for college or holiday shopping, compared to 36% who either did not have time to work or did not want to work.

Since its launch as the first free scholarship matching site in 1995, Fastweb has helped more than 50 million users looking for a way to pay for college*. Fastweb offers personalized scholarship matches, internship and entry-level job opportunities, and expert financial aid advice at one convenient, online location

About Monster Worldwide
Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: MWW), parent company of Monster, the premier global online employment solution for more than a decade, strives to inspire people to improve their lives. With a local presence in key markets in North America, Europe, and Asia, Monster works for everyone by connecting employers with quality job seekers at all levels and by providing personalized career advice to consumers globally. Through online media sites and services, Monster delivers vast, highly targeted audiences to advertisers. Monster Worldwide is a member of the S&P 500 index. To learn more about Monster’s industry-leading products and services, visit www.monster.com. More information about Monster Worldwide is available at www.about-monster.com.

About Fastweb
Fastweb is the nation’s recognized leader in helping students pay for school, by providing scholarship and financial aid information, as well as information on jobs and internships. One out of three college-bound seniors use the site, and more than 50 million* members have benefited from Fastweb’s information and services. Fastweb lets students create a personalized profile that can be matched against its expansive databases of colleges and scholarships. As the oldest and most popular free online scholarship matching service, the database has more than 1.5 million scholarships totaling over $3.4 billion.
*9 million are active users of the site

Press Contact
Zora Falkowski
617-897-8247
Zora.Falkowski@porternovelli.com

HOLMDEL, N.J. (December 6, 2010) – Calling all co-eds. Recognizing the ongoing burden of college costs, ScholarGamers.com has expanded its audience and invited college students to participate in its scholarship competitions at the start of the new year. The innovative platform offers online game enthusiasts the chance to compete in various no fee online games to win educational scholarships.

Effective January 1, 2011, anyone enrolled or registered in a college, university, trade school or other institution of post secondary education at the start of the competition session can compete in the monthly ScholarGamers.com tournaments.

“The financial burden of college is long lasting. It begins well before the applications are filled out, continuing through the education process and long after a college degree is conferred,” said Angelo Tartaro, CEO and Founder, ScholarGamers.com.

“We are pleased to offer ScholarGamers.com as a supplement for matriculated students who are looking to finance their education.”

Launched in November, ScholarGamers.com offers a novel solution to escalating educational costs by giving students an opportunity to win scholarships via a free flash game competition.

ScholarGamers.com offers scholarships of up to $5,000, deposited into a 529 plan for each designated winner. While individuals of all ages can play games on the site, up until now only high school students ages 13-19 were eligible to compete for scholarship money. Competitors are only eligible to win once. ScholarGamers.com will award 144 scholarships in 2011.
About ScholarGamers.com

ScholarGamers.com is an innovative platform offering middle-, high-school and college students a chance to compete for educational scholarships through no-fee online game competitions. Simple in concept and elaborate in reward, ScholarGamers.com doesn’t limit scholarships to those with the usual special skills. Developed as a response to escalating educational costs, ScholarGamers.com’s secure environment fosters a sense of pride, accomplishment and fun. For more information, please visit www.scholargamers.com, www.facebook.com/scholargamers, www.twitter.com/scholargamers or www.youtube.com/scholargamers.