Blog
Celebrating Infectious Disease Heroes: Peter Piot, MD, PhD
Through a combination of scientific excellence, policy strategy, strong communication, and global activism, Peter Piot, MD, PhD has played pivotal roles in two defining global infectious disease epidemics of our time – AIDS and Ebola and is one of the most influential global public health leaders.
Flu Vaccination is Important Each & Every Year…Even for Healthy Children
Caroline had been vaccinated against the flu every year except this particular year. The vaccine wasn’t readily available prior to the beginning of school and once the busy school year began, it fell off the “radar.” Caroline’s mother admits, “The fact that we neglected to make it a priority was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made as a parent. That mistake and lack of judgment nearly stole my child’s life and has changed our entire family’s lives forever…”
Frequently Asked Questions About Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
There are an estimated 1 million cases of shingles each year in the US and the risk of shingles increases as you get older. About half of all cases occur in men and women age 60 years or older. Almost 1 out of every 3 adults in the US will develop shingles, also known as zoster or herpes zoster, in their lifetime.
Influenza Vaccination for Adults Age 65 Years and Older: Frequently Asked Questions
In the US, adults age 65 years and older are disproportionately impacted by influenza (flu) every year. There are far more flu-related deaths and hospitalizations in adults age 65 years and older than any other age group…
Are Vaccines Safe?
Probably the most dangerous aspect of getting a vaccine is driving to the doctor’s office to get it. Every year, about 30,000 people die in car accidents and even walking outside on a rainy day isn’t entirely safe—every year in the US, about 100 people are killed when struck by lightning. While routine daily activities pose a certain degree of risk, we choose to do them because we consider that the benefits outweigh the risks.
What is the Public Health Preparedness of our Nation?
Another lesson we can draw from vaccination rates: when we become complacent, our preparedness suffers. We can’t let vaccine complacency continue.
5 Ways to Advance Antimicrobial Stewardship in 2017
Significant increases in worldwide antimicrobial resistance has created an urgent need for the appropriate use and management of antibiotic prescribing. During 2017, take these 5 steps to help advance antimicrobial stewardship…
Happy New Year from NFID
As we wrap up 2016, we thank you for your generous donations to NFID that helped support the fight against infectious diseases…
Top 10 Must Read 2016 NFID Blog Posts
As 2016 comes to a close, NFID would like to wish all readers a safe and happy holiday season. As we reflect on the past year, we are pleased to share this recap of the top 10 most read blog posts in 2016…
Experts Answer Questions About Flu
Special thanks to Vaccinate Your Family for co-sponsoring the Flu Facebook Forum during National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW), as well as those who took time to ask flu-related questions and the NFID experts (William Schaffner, MD; Walter A. Orenstein, MD; Patricia A. Stinchfield, RN, MS, CPNP, CIC; Lisa S. Ipp, MD; and Kathleen M. Neuzil, MD, MPH) who provided detailed responses.