Antibiotic Resistance Awareness

How the program started
In 2003, the MSV Foundation and the Virginia Department of Health kicked off the Get Smart Virginia: Know When Antibiotics Work antibiotic resistance awareness campaign. The focus of this initiative is to promote the message that antibiotics need to be used appropriately and judiciously. The campaign has a broad base of support: both the Virginia Academy of Family Physicians and the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics have endorsed the project. In addition, Governor Mark Warner and Governor Tim Kaine each designated a week in October as appropriate antibiotic use awareness week.

Based on the Centers for Disease Control guidelines, the MSV Foundation and the Virginia Department of Health jointly developed a variety of educational resources and tools. These are being used in physician offices, clinics, schools, pharmacies, daycare centers, and other venues to educate the public about appropriate antibiotic usage. Tens of thousands of these materials have been distributed across the Commonwealth. These educational tools and resources are available free of charge to health care professionals and community organizations in Virginia.