At the 40-year anniversary of Ghostbusters, Ernie Hudson shares something Americans should gear up to fight this season—with some powerful life wisdom.
Beloved Hollywood actor Ernie Hudson, best known for his role as Winston Zeddemore in the Ghostbusters franchise, has a non-spooky message for older adults this fall: The RSV vaccine is for mature audiences.
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The 78-year-old legend recently gained attention on Instagram for being incredibly fit for his age (the photo of him above is from earlier this year). Now he’s teaming up with Pfizer for a campaign called “Rated RSV” to spread awareness for the RSV vaccine and why it’s important for adults to consider.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can be common in children under the age of 5 years, but it’s also particularly dangerous for adults over the age of 60 or people who are immunocompromised—and RSV can look different when it infects older individuals.
Ahead, Hudson shares how Ghostbusters continues to touch his life today (fans know he’s appeared in several sequels, including this year’s Frozen Empire), the one self-care tip he can’t start his day without, and why he’s so passionate about helping others stay well.
Question: Ernie, researching your background, your path to Hollywood is uniquely inspiring. You lost your mom as a newborn, were raised by your grandparents, were discharged from the Marines due to asthma, and then took a job as a playwright. That led to an amazing career. What does it mean to have been an original part of such an iconic film franchise like Ghostbusters that so many of us grew up with, and now for us all to be celebrating at the 40-year anniversary?
Ernie Hudson: I’m just very, very thankful to be part of that franchise. When you make a movie, you never really know how it’s going to be received. So I’m grateful that it’s been loved by so many people for so many years. The fact that it’s been 40 years and people still love the movie, and they’ve introduced it to their children or even their grandchildren, is just a real blessing.
Q: Tell us about “Rated RSV.” We love the name. We’ve covered how prominent RSV has gotten these past couple years, so thank you for keeping the message out there. What made you passionate about being part of this campaign?
Ernie Hudson: I have to be honest, while I had heard of RSV before, I really thought of it as more of a concern for babies and small children. So when my doctor told me that adults over 75 years of age, like me, or over 60 with a preexisting condition–such as asthma, heart disease or COPD–are also at high risk, I was eager to get a vaccine that could help protect me. And when Pfizer reached out to me about doing an awareness campaign for older adults to get vaccinated for RSV, I was excited because I think it’s important to get the word out for mature audiences.
Q: Where should people go to learn more about RSV vaccines and whether they’re eligible?
Ernie Hudson: Well, I’m not a doctor, so I would say people should talk to their healthcare provider to learn more and see if they should be vaccinated against RSV. You can also visit VaxAssist.com to learn more about the vaccines you may need and even schedule an appointment if you qualify.
Q: You’re about to turn 79 this December. You’re the perfect example of how our perception of the senior years has evolved so much. Would you call yourself “youthful”?
Ernie Hudson: I’ve always thought that being youthful is probably more of an internal perception than anything—a state of mind. I’ve always seen myself as youthful, and I’m very pleasantly surprised to see that other people think so as well.
But to remain in a youthful state of mind, we have to do the necessary things to keep our body healthy and operating the way it’s supposed to. After all, we only get one body, and we have to live in it our whole life. So, that means making the right choices and building healthy habits in a way that works for you.
Q: If you had to name one habit or lifestyle choice you follow that’s helped you stay healthy, what is it? And what are the other habits you follow to stay well?
Ernie Hudson: Well, my grandma used to tell me just don’t do the stupid stuff. Have a piece of cake, just don’t have the whole cake. You need to maintain some kind of physical activity, but it’s different for everyone. Some people love going to the gym. I’ve never been one of those people, but I find the workouts that work me and keep me moving. I do Pilates; I try and walk a lot; I drink a lot of water and make sure to get my yearly checkup with my doctor. And what I’ve learned from my doctor is that it’s always best stop something before it starts, whether that’s weight gain, or cancer, or something like RSV.
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Q: What is one self-care routine you refuse to skip?
Ernie Hudson: It might sound a little strange but the self-care routine I refuse to skip—and one that I recommend everyone does—is just looking at yourself in the mirror and reminding yourself that you love yourself. You love yourself enough to do the things you enjoy and love yourself enough to do the things you don’t always want to do, like exercise or eat right. It’s just very important to start your day remembering you love yourself. That attitude will carry you through the day and extend to everyone you meet.
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