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'Game of Thrones' Flu Shot Video Will Make You Want to Get Vaccinated

By David Matthews | October 2, 2015 2:58pm | Updated on October 5, 2015 8:26am

STREETERVILLE — Winter is coming, and so is flu season, a Streeterville medical practice warns in a hilarious "Game of Thrones"-themed flu shot promo.

Northwestern Children's Practice, 680 N. Lake Shore Drive, filmed a startlingly elaborate short film — complete with fake swords and toy dragons — to warn Chicagoans of the perils of living without an annual flu vaccine and advertise their hours for walk-in appointments this month.

The people seen with the bad wigs below are actual doctors.

"There are two types of flu vaccine," one of the actors/physicians explains between recreated scenes from the popular HBO series. "An injection for children age six months to two years, and a nasal spray for children over the age of two who do not have a history of wheezing."

The video, posted to the practice's Facebook page Wednesday, already has more than 18,000 views. 

Dr. Scott Goldstein, a pediatrician and partner of the practice, said they contracted a production company to shoot the commercial, which took "six or seven" hours and a dozen takes for each of the promo's seven scenes.

He said his office came up with the idea as "Game of Thrones" was wrapping up its latest season in June. They were also inspired by one of their receptionists, who Goldstein said looks like Daenerys Targaryen, the Mother Of Dragons

"It's hard to be super serious when you're around kids all day long, and their parents too," Goldstein said. "We want to get kids protected early on, so rather than signs in the office, we thought more people would see this."

The video is "by far" the practice's most popular promo, which Goldstein said is an extension of their lighthearted Facebook posts. They already plan a holiday video, but don't know what their next theme will be.

"What we’re probably going to do hasn’t happened in the pop culture universe yet," he said. 

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