Schaffner Report: Who Needs a COVID-19 Booster Dose?
With cases of COVID-19 on the rise and the Delta variant surging, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends COVID-19 booster shots for certain populations. In this episode of the Schaffner Report, Marla Dalton, NFID Executive Director and CEO, talks with NFID Medical Director William Schaffner, MD, about the updated CDC guidance …
ID News Round-Up: COVID-19 Vaccines for Pregnant and Immunocompromised Individuals
Read recent news of interest from the world of infectious diseases, with a focus on COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women and additional doses for those who are immunocompromised …
A Safer Way to Reopen: Focusing on Workplace Testing for COVID-19
Even with the availability of new vaccines, COVID-19 remains a threat. With one in four US adults not planning to get vaccinated and new variants emerging, epidemiologists are predicting another wave of COVID-19 this fall. Special thanks to Steven Phillips of the COVID Collaborative for this guest blog post on the use of rapid testing to help stop the spread of COVID-19 …
Schaffner Report: Are We on Track to End the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Although the US may have fallen short of the ambitious goal of vaccinating 70 percent of the population by July 4, 2021, those states and communities with high vaccination rates are seeing declines in cases and deaths due to COVID-19. Are we nearing the end of the pandemic, or does the Delta variant threaten the progress made thus far? In this episode of the Schaffner Report, NFID Executive Director and CEO Marla Dalton talks with NFID Medical Director William Schaffner, MD, about current issues regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic …
ID News Round-Up: #COVID-19 Vaccination Risks and Benefits
As COVID-19 vaccination efforts continue across the US, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and other public health experts continue to evaluate the risks and benefits of the new vaccines. Read recent news of interest from the world of infectious diseases, with a focus on COVID-19 vaccines and associated heart inflammation …
Schaffner Report: COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects—Cause or Coincidence?
As COVID-19 vaccination efforts continue across the US, some questions and concerns about potential side effects are also circulating. In addition to the typical sore arm and fatigue, reports have recently surfaced about individuals suffering from various symptoms after getting vaccinated, including ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis). But just because one event follows another in time does not necessarily mean it was caused by the event itself. In this episode of the Schaffner Report, Marla Dalton, Executive Director and CEO of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) talks with NFID Medical Director William Schaffner, MD, about the difference between causation and coincidence, and how to distinguish COVID-19 vaccine facts from fiction …
The Last Mile: Overcoming COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy
There is light at the end of the pandemic tunnel in the US, thanks to the rapid development and efficient distribution of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. We have plenty of reasons to rejoice, but a lingering and frustrating impediment to attaining nationwide herd immunity persists—continued vaccine hesitancy fueled by misinformation, especially among particular segments of the US population …
Tips for Safe Summer Fun
In the US, Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer. After a long season of COVID-19, things are finally starting to look brighter as COVID-19 vaccination rates are climbing, and cases, hospitalizations, and deaths due to the virus are now decreasing in the US. We asked NFID leaders for their tips to stay healthy on Memorial Day, and throughout the summer …
Schaffner Report: Adolescent COVID-19 Vaccination
On May 12, 2021, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine be used in children age 12-15 years and provided new guidance on co-administration of COVID-19 vaccines with other recommended vaccines, including influenza. In this episode of the Schaffner Report, NFID Medical Director William Schaffner, MD, talks with NFID Executive Director and CEO Marla Dalton about these important new developments …
Schaffner Report: COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Update
Following a thorough safety review, FDA and CDC have determined that the recommended pause regarding the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in the US should be lifted and use of the vaccine should resume. In this episode of the Schaffner Report, NFID Medical Director William Schaffner, MD, talks with NFID Executive Director and CEO Marla Dalton about the decision and how it may impact confidence in COVID-19 vaccines …
Schaffner Report: COVID-19 Vaccine Safety and Effectiveness
Recent news headlines about COVID-19 vaccines have been focused on concerns about safety and effectiveness. Public health authorities in the US and Europe are reviewing reports of a rare blood clotting disorder among some vaccine recipients, as well as rare reports of breakthrough illnesses in fully vaccinated individuals. In this episode of the Schaffner Report, NFID Medical Director William Schaffner, MD, talks with NFID Executive Director and CEO Marla Dalton about the significance of these reports and the implications for COVID-19 vaccination efforts in the US …
Effective Communications: The “Secret Sauce” for COVID-19 Vaccination
The COVID-19 pandemic has confronted health communicators with unprecedented challenges. To achieve widespread “vaccine literacy,” health communicators must apply basic educational principles to promote trustworthy, straightforward communication …
