On September 29, 2016, NFID hosted the 20th Annual Influenza/Pneumococcal News Conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Tom Frieden, MD, MPH, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) joined with leading medical and public health experts at the NFID news conference to encourage all individuals age 6 months and older to get vaccinated against influenza annually.
Experts joining Dr. Frieden included William Schaffner, MD, NFID medical director and professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; Patricia N. Whitley-Williams, MD, NFID vice president and pediatric infectious disease physician at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; and Wilbur H. Chen, MD, associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and chief of the Adult Clinical Studies section at the Center for Vaccine Development. Watch the video of the news conference.
#Flu can be serious for children of all ages. On average, 20,000 chlldren under 5 are hospitalzed annually #FightFlu pic.twitter.com/8PZ561PtvE
— NFID (@NFIDVaccines) September 29, 2016
Panelists reminded attendees that the nasal spray flu vaccine is not recommended for children in the US this season, but that is no excuse to not get vaccinated. Experts also discussed the impact of flu on older adults, why and when is a good time to get vaccinated, and the role of two specific vaccines designed to improve influenza immunity in the 65 and older adult population.
70-90% influenza deaths occur in adults older than 65 years of age #FightFlu pic.twitter.com/udl7L1wciG
— NFID (@NFIDVaccines) September 29, 2016
Partner organizations joined NFID and CDC to highlight the importance of annual flu vaccination for all individuals age six months or older.
Get a flu shot, people! Then tell ppl you did.
@DrFriedenCDC and I both vaccinated today. #fightflu for yourself and your community; smart. pic.twitter.com/AuWNrs9kZ0— WendySueSwanson MD, MBE (@wendysueswanson) September 29, 2016
CDC's Daniel Jernigan is ready for #flu season. Are you? Make sure you #GetAFluVax by the end of October, if possible to #FightFlu! pic.twitter.com/eq9uweIpsS
— CDC Flu (@CDCFlu) September 30, 2016
#FF Thx to partners working to #FightFlu @CDCFlu @AARP @aafp @AAPNews @acognews @ACPinternists @ANANursingWorld @famfightflu @NACDS
— NFID (@NFIDVaccines) September 30, 2016
#FF Thx to partners who #FightFlu @Aging_Research @LungAssociation @geronsociety @MarchofDimes @NAPNAP @HHSGov @NACCHOalerts
— NFID (@NFIDVaccines) September 30, 2016
#FF Thx to partners who #FightFlu @MedStarVNA @schoolnurses @ResearchAmerica @NationalMed @RWJMS @SeattleMamaDoc @kevinault
— NFID (@NFIDVaccines) September 30, 2016
Attendees led by example and participated in the onsite flu vaccine clinic and posted their flu vaccine selfies on social media using the #FightFlu hashtag.
here is my flu vaccine selfie @NFIDvaccines. Thanks for inviting me to your annual #Influenza news conference today and #FightFlu. pic.twitter.com/JV0RMmDqhr
— Kevin Ault (@kevinault) September 29, 2016
Join in and post your flu vaccine selfie using #FightFlu. And if you have not yet received your flu vaccine this season, you can #GetVaccinated at many convenient locations. Find one near you using HealthMap Vaccine Finder.
There are multiple options for where to get #flu vax, like your doctor's office, pharmacy, and workplace. #FightFlu
— CDC Flu (@CDCFlu) September 29, 2016
Make sure you #FightFlu all season long by practicing the CDC Take 3 Actions to Fight the Flu: 1) Get a flu vaccine, 2) Take everyday preventative actions to stop the spread of germs, and 3) Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them.
Prevent spread of illness by washing hands often, especially after coughing, sneezing or wiping noses https://t.co/BWsJzLrmmV #FightFlu
— American Academy of Pediatrics (@AmerAcadPeds) September 29, 2016
For additional information about preventing flu, visit www.nfid.org/flu. To learn more about the NFID Leading By Example initiative, calling on leaders in healthcare, business, education, and politics to “lead by example” by making a commitment to influenza prevention, visit www.nfid.org/lbe.
To join the conversation, follow NFID on Twitter (@nfidvaccines) using the hashtag #FightFlu, like us on Facebook, join the NFID Linkedin Group, and subscribe to NFID Updates.
