Stay Prepared: Spring May Be Blooming but the Flu is Still Active

Flu activity across the country has been at elevated levels for 15 consecutive weeks, compared to a typical flu season, which lasts 13 weeks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has reported that influenza activity in the United States began to increase in mid-November, and has remained elevated through February 21, 2015 †. In light of these recent reports, Vicks®, the maker of NyQuil™ Severe and DayQuil™ Severe, is encouraging people to be prepared and take precautions to protect themselves and their families during this prolonged cold and flu season.

“Even though temperatures are steadily climbing across the country and we’re all enjoying more sunlight each day, you can still get sick in an extra-long flu season,” said Dave Tomasi, Vicks North American Marketing Director. “That’s why, we at Vicks continue to provide solutions, like NyQuil Severe and DayQuil Severe to offer maximum strength medicine for multi-symptom relief year round so consumers get back to being themselves this spring.”

To help consumers and their families navigate this year’s extended cold and flu season, Vicks has partnered with Nurse Barb Dehn R.N., M.S., practicing Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, and award winning author.

“Though the number of cases of influenza are declining, we still have widespread flu in many areas of the country, with two strains particularly active and prevalent,” says Vicks Spokesperson, Nurse Barb Dehn. “This means that Americans need to stay vigilant as to not transmit the cold and flu viruses in the warmer months. I recommend continuing to take precautionary measures and to prepare your medicine cabinets with a maximum strength over-the-counter medication in case you succumb to a cold or flu. ”

To help find relief from symptoms Nurse Barb Dehn shares practical and easy tips to help consumers and their families’ power through and continue with their daily lives.

• Keep washing your hands and use hand sanitizer whenever possible
• Limit the spread of the virus and stay home, if you can
• Get plenty of rest – it’s essential to give your body the strength it needs to fight the virus
• Drink fluids, such as water or non-carbonated sports drinks to avoid dehydration
• Stock your medicine cabinet with powerful multi-symptom medications, like DayQuil Severe and NyQuil Severe to combat your worst cold and flu symptoms

For extra relief, Vicks DayQuil Severe and NyQuil Severe provide maximum symptom fighting ingredients to relieve consumers’ worst cold and flu symptoms.

• Vicks DayQuil Severe relieves aches, fever, sore throat, nasal/sinus congestion and pressure, cough and chest congestion that allows you to power through your day
• Vicks NyQuil Severe relieves aches, fever, sore throat, nasal/sinus congestion and pressure, sneezing, running nose and cough so you can rest through the night

Vicks, an iconic household brand, has helped consumers power through their cold and flu symptoms for decades. This year, DayQuil Severe and NyQuil Severe was voted Best New Cough and Cold Remedy in the 2015 Better Home and Gardens Best New Product Awards. This consumer-chosen award is based on the 2015 BrandSpark/Better Homes and Gardens American Shopper Study of over 70,000 voters nationwide. For more information on BrandSpark/Better Homes and Gardens American Shopper Study visit www.BestNewProductAwards.com.

For more information about Vicks DayQuil Severe and NyQuil Severe, and ways to feel better this season visit Vicks.com or Facebook.com/NyQuil.DayQuil. For more information about Nurse Barbara Dehn, visit http://www.NurseBarb.com/.

† Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015). Situation Update: Summary of Weekly FluView. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/summary.htm

ABOUT VICKS®

Vicks® is one of the most recognized brands around the world. Available in more than 71 countries and on 5 continents, Vicks has helped relieve cough, cold, and flu symptoms for generations. In the U.S., the Vicks family includes, NyQuil™, the #1 Pharmacist recommended brand for adult nighttime cough/cold/flu relief*; NyQuil™ Severe; Children’s NyQuil™; DayQuil™ Cold/Flu, the #1 pharmacist recommended brand for adult daytime cough/cold/flu relief**; DayQuil™ Severe; DayQuil™ Cough; VapoRub™ Ointment, the #1 Pharmacist recommended brand for Topical Cough Suppressing Ointment***; BabyRub™; Sinex™ 12 Hour Spray; Sinex™ Ultra Fine Mist; Sinex™ 12 Hour Ultra Fine Mist Moisturizing; and Vicks® VapoDrops™; QlearQuil™ All Day & All Night 24 Hour Allergy Relief; QlearQuil™ Nighttime Allergy Relief; QlearQuil™ Daytime Sinus & Congestion; QlearQuil™ Nighttime Sinus & Congestion; and QlearQuil™ 12 Hour Nasal Decongestant Moisturizing Spray. Headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, Vicks is owned and distributed by Procter & Gamble.

*Survey conducted by Pharmacy Times, OTC Guide supplement, Cough/Cold/Flu Combinations- Nighttime, June 2014 (Tied for #1)

**Survey conducted by Pharmacy Times, OTC Guide supplement, Cough/Cold/Flu Combinations- Daytime, June 2014 (Tied for #1)

***Survey conducted by Pharmacy Times, OTC Guide supplement, Cough Suppressing Ointments, June 2014

ABOUT PROCTER & GAMBLE

P&G serves nearly five billion people around the world with its brands. The Company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, Wella® and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.