Why ‘Modern Family’ Stars Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell Are Coming Together Again to Warn Parents About Meningitis

Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell are working together again, but this time it is not for a TV show. The two actors have reunited to support a health awareness campaign about meningitis.

The campaign is called Ask2BSure, and it is made to help parents understand the risks of meningococcal disease. It mainly focuses on meningitis B, a serious illness that can affect teenagers and young adults. Many parents do not realise that their children may still need a specific vaccine for it.

Both Bowen and Burrell have teenage children, and they said that is one of the reasons they agreed to take part. Burrell explained that parents often try to balance giving kids independence while also keeping them safe.

“I think there’s a dance that most parents of teens know about trying to give them their independence, but also trying to keep them safe,” Burrell said. He also added that the illness is serious and parents should talk to doctors about it.

Bowen also spoke about how important it is for parents to stay informed. She said the goal of the campaign is to make the topic easier to understand without scaring people.

“We’re trying to make it light but informative,” Bowen said. She also shared that meeting families affected by meningitis made the message feel even more important to her.

To help spread awareness, Bowen and Burrell appear in a short video called The Mening-Itinerary. It uses humour and everyday parenting situations to explain how the infection can spread, such as through sharing drinks or close contact.

Burrell said the project was similar to things they used to do together on Modern Family, but with a serious message behind it.

“We’ve made many silly things together, so it’s really fun to do that with this video, but on behalf of something that we think is important,” Burrell said.

Bowen also pointed out that many parents may not realise there are different types of meningitis vaccines. Some children may have had protection for certain strains but still not be fully covered for meningitis B.

She said she only learned this herself when checking her children’s records, which surprised her.

According to health information referenced in the campaign, meningitis can develop quickly and may become life-threatening within 24 hours. It can also lead to long-term complications in survivors.

Through this campaign, Bowen and Burrell hope parents will feel encouraged to speak with doctors and make sure their teens are properly protected.

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