Bolt joins PAHO to promote vaccination

Jamaican track superstar Usain Bolt has joined the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in a campaign to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination in protecting health and preventing disease. The six-time Olympic gold medalist and 11-time world champion sprinter appears on posters and in a public service announcement encouraging people to get vaccinated. The PSA, posted on Vimeo, and posters are part of PAHO’s 14th annual Vaccination Week in the Americas campaign, which highlights the life-saving benefits of vaccines.

“Being the best athlete I can means staying healthy – including keeping up to date on my vaccines,” Bolt says in a social media post for the campaign. In the PSA, he says “I’m up to date on my vaccines. Are you?” and urges viewers to “Go for the gold” and get vaccinated.

“Go for the gold – Get vaccinated!” is the campaign slogan for this year’s Vaccination Week in the Americas, which takes place from April 23 to 30. It references the upcoming 2016 summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, in which Bolt is scheduled to compete.

On Thursday Bolt was named one of the most influential people in the world, according to TIME magazine.

The Jamaican has been named among world leaders, activists, artists and athletes, scientists, moguls and United States presidential hopefuls, in the list of the 100 Most Influential People of 2016 released Thursday April 21, 2016.