Pro Golfer Jim Furyk Teams Up With Pfizer To Raise Awareness For Pneumococcal Pneumonia And The Importance Of Older Adult Vaccination

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– This Father’s Day, Jim Furyk will be thinking about more than just
strategizing for the next Major as he joins Pfizer to encourage adults
65 and older to take responsibility for their health. On Father’s Day
2003, Furyk won a Major with his coach and father, Mike, by his side.¹
This year, Jim will be one of 156 golfers to gather in Oakmont, PA, to
play in one of professional golf’s major championship tournaments.

For adults 65 and older, healthy aging includes eating well, staying
physically active, seeing their doctor for regular health visits and
making sure they are up-to-date on vaccines that may help protect
against potentially serious infectious diseases like pneumococcal
pneumonia.

“My dad’s been with me every step of the way, and frankly, I wouldn’t be
the man and golfer I am today if it weren’t for him,” said Furyk. “But
now it’s time for me to ‘coach my coach’ about taking personal
responsibility for his well-being. Just like overcoming hazards along a
golf course, understanding your risk for potentially serious infectious
illnesses like pneumococcal pneumonia can help adults 65 and older stay
on the right track. Talk to your healthcare provider and make sure that
you’re up-to-date on all of your appropriate vaccinations.”

Pneumococcal pneumonia is a potentially serious and, in some cases,
life-threatening illness that can strike at any time.² Adults
age 65 and older may be at increased risk for illnesses like
pneumococcal pneumonia because our immune systems naturally weaken as we
age.³ But, vaccines can help reduce the chance of getting
certain infectious diseases.⁴

In order to help further educate adults 65 and older about pneumococcal
pneumonia and the importance of adult vaccination, Pfizer will host an
interactive “KnowPneumonia” booth at the Quicken Loans National (June 22
– 26 in Bethesda, MD), the Barclays (August 24 – 28 in Farmingdale, NY)
and the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola (September 21 – 25 in Atlanta,
GA) tournaments. Tournament attendees who visit the KnowPneumonia booth
will have the chance to attend an on-site meet-and-greet with Furyk.

Adults 65 years of age and older should speak with their doctor or
pharmacist about their personal risk for illnesses like pneumococcal
pneumonia and check their vaccination status.

To get started, visit www.KnowPneumonia.com
to learn more and take a quiz to learn more about your own personal risk
for pneumococcal pneumonia.

About pneumococcal pneumonia

The most common form of bacterial pneumonia, pneumococcal pneumonia is a
potentially serious lung⁵ disease caused by the Streptococcus
pneumoniae bacteria. It can be spread through coughing or
sneezing.⁶ Symptoms of pneumococcal pneumonia may include
fever, excessive sweating and chills, coughing, difficulty breathing,
shortness of breath and chest pain.²

Additional information is available at www.KnowPneumonia.com.

About Jim Furyk

Jim is a winner of 16 professional golf tournament championships, member
of 15 consecutive U.S. national teams, 4^th on the all-time
career earnings list, and 6^th player in history to join the
59 Club, shooting a 59 in a competitive round at a tournament.

Pfizer Inc: Working together for a healthier world™

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies
to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive
to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery,
development and manufacture of health care products. Our global
portfolio includes medicines and vaccines as well as many of the world’s
best-known consumer health care products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues
work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness,
prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases
of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world’s
premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with
health care providers, governments and local communities to support and
expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For
more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference for all who
rely on us. For more information, please visit us at www.pfizer.com.
In addition, to learn more, follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer
and @Pfizer_News,
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and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.

¹ U.S. Open 2009. United States Golf Association. Past
Champions – Jim Furyk. http://usga.usopen.com/2009/history/pastchamps/2003.html.
Accessed April 11, 2016.

² Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Pneumococcal disease. In: Hamborsky J, Kroger A, Wolfe C, eds.
Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (The Pink
Book). 13th ed. Washington DC: Public Health Foundation; 2015:279-296. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/index.html.
Accessed April 11, 2016

³ Weinberger B, Herndler-Brandstetter D, Schwanninger A, et
al. Biology of immune responses to vaccines in elderly persons. Clin
Infect Dis. 2008;46:1078-1084

⁴ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccine
Information for Adults: Why vaccines are important for you. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/reasons-to-vaccinate.html.
Updated April 11, 2016.

⁵ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pneumococcal
Disease. Symptoms & Complications.http://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/about/symptoms-complications.html.
Accessed April 11, 2016.

⁶ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Risk factors &
transmission. http://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/about/risk-transmission.html.
Updated June 6, 2013. Accessed April 11, 2016.

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