The “GEAR UP, Against Shingles!” campaign is a community outreach and education campaign, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Several former NFL players are lending their voices and encouraging adults aged 50+ to keep themselves healthy and make an informed decision about getting the Shingles vaccine.

About 1 in every 3 people in the United States will have shingles in their lifetime. As you get older, your risk for having shingles and serious complications increases. Getting a shingles shot is the only way to protect against shingles.

NFL Alumni is teaming up with the CDC and state and local health departments to educate older adults about shingles and the actions that can be taken to prevent it. As part of the Campaign, NFL Alumni is engaging former NFL players to offer public service announcements, share messages via social media, and host events to raise awareness of the importance of protecting against shingles.

The “GEAR UP, Against Shingles!” campaign embodies the triple mission of NFL Alumni, of “Caring for our Own,” “Caring for Kids,” and “Caring for the Community.”