NFID Resources to Help #StopTheSpread of COVID-19
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Message from Headquarters
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On behalf of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), I want to extend sincerest thanks and support to the heroic healthcare professionals and public health officials on the front lines of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the researchers and industry partners working tirelessly to develop new vaccines and antivirals to prevent and treat the disease.
The importance of educating the public and healthcare professionals about the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic cannot be overstated, as information and guidance changes frequently and misinformation spreads. NFID has responded to this crisis by providing education through traditional and social media outreach, including infographics and new content on the
NFID website. Additionally, in collaboration with our partners, we are hosting a series of COVID-19
webinars to reach healthcare professionals during this challenging time.
NFID recently made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020
Annual Conference on Vaccinology Research (ACVR) and postpone the
2020 NFID Awards Dinner, as the health and safety of our stakeholders is of utmost importance. A new date for the Awards Dinner will be announced shortly and we continue to explore alternative ways to share the important ACVR educational content. Many sessions, beginning with the
Women Leaders in Vaccinology Panel Discussion, will be available online in the coming months. A special thanks goes out to all those who donated their ACVR registration fees to NFID. Your support helps NFID respond to unexpected crises like COVID-19.
To assist with the response effort and help prepare for future outbreaks, NFID is launching a new
NFID COVID-19 fundraising campaign as a special appeal. Additional details are included below.
Indeed, we have faced many public health challenges in the past year, as highlighted in the
NFID FY19 Annual Report, but there have also been signs of hope, including ongoing research to develop new and more effective vaccines and better treatment options for infectious diseases.
Thank you all for your continued support. Stay safe and #WashYourHands...
Marla Dalton, CAE
NFID Executive Director & CEO
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Now, more than ever, the mission of NFID to educate the public and healthcare professionals about the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases is vital to protecting public health. As a long-standing leader in infectious disease education and awareness, NFID is responding to COVID-19, with complimentary webinars, accurate and up-to-date information, and more. Support our response to COVID-19 and help ensure our ability to mount an agile response to future outbreaks that we cannot yet predict.
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For decades, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have recommended vitamin A for the management of measles; however, recent studies show that vitamin A has not been used appropriately to treat children in the US.
In November 2019, NFID convened a Summit with multidisciplinary subject matter experts to discuss the use of vitamin A in US measles management. Based on the discussions, NFID issued a Call to Action with specific recommendations including the following:
- All children in the US presenting with measles should receive an age-appropriate dose of vitamin A as part of a comprehensive measles management protocol
- AAP and other professional organizations should revisit their guidelines in order to provide the utmost clarity to healthcare professionals
- A research agenda for better understanding the mechanism of vitamin A in measles management within the US and other resource-rich countries needs to be established.
“Vitamin A does not prevent measles, but it can impact the outcome,” said NFID Vice President and Summit organizer, Patricia A. Stinchfield, RN, MS, CPNP, CIC. The Call to Action has been shared with the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases with the recommendation to clarify AAP Red Book recommendations on vitamin A for measles management.
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Need Continuing Education Credits?
View complimentary NFID webinar recordings and earn continuing education credit while learning about the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases. On-demand webinars include:
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Save The Date: 2020 Clinical Vaccinology Course
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The
2020 Clinical Vaccinology Course (CVC) is scheduled for
November 13-14, 2020 in Bethesda, MD. The course will feature the latest information on vaccines, including recommendations for vaccination across the lifespan and innovative and practical strategies for ensuring timely and appropriate immunization.
Registration will open in July 2020.
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An End To Flu Deaths
NFID is a founding member of the
Coalition t
o Stop Flu, a new multi-sector advocacy coaltion centered on improving seasonal and pandemic influenza (flu) preparedness among policymakers. Led by former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, the Coalition will focus on increasing federal funding and implementing proactive policy solutions to stop flu deaths; raising awareness and prioritization for seasonal and pandemic flu preparedness; and serving as a united voice and trusted resource for policymakers.
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State of the ImmUnion
Vaccinate Your Family has released the 4th Annual
State of the ImmUnion report to examine vaccine-preventable diseases across the US and address strategies to strengthen public health and make the US more resilient in the face of emerging health threats.
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2020 NFID Awards: Celebrating Infectious Disease Heroes
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In a recent
NFID blog post, each of the 2020 NFID Awardees shared what most keeps them up at night as well as their thoughts on the greatest infectious disease threats and opportunities. Originally scheduled for June 11, 2020 in Washington, DC, the Awards Dinner has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional information will be available as soon as a new date is confirmed.
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Help Recognize Heroes of Public Health
Many friends and colleagues are currenly on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, working around the clock to help protect public health around the world—from scientific research to develop new vaccines and treatments, to efforts to track and limit the spread of disease, to humanitarian initiatives bringing vital resources to the most vulnerable populations. Help NFID honor these heroes by
nominating a colleague for the
2021 NFID Awards.
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To stay up-to-date on NFID activities,
subscribe
to NFID Updates and follow our blog,
NFID News
. Recent popular posts include:
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Recognizing #WomenInScience
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. To recognize the impact of inspirational women in the field of vaccinology, NFID is highlighting the accomplishments of women leaders working in a variety of professional settings.
Read More...
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Influenza Vaccination Is Critical for Patients With Heart Disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the US—each year, one in four deaths are caused by heart disease. American Heart Month is an ideal time to raise awareness about the importance of heart-healthy lifestyle choices, including annual flu vaccination.
Read More…
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ID News Round-Up: Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The novel coronavirus disease that was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019 now has an official name: COVID-19. Read recent news of interest from the world of infectious diseases, with a focus on COVID-19.
Read More…
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NFID Vice President
Patricia (Patsy) A. Stinchfield, RN, MS, CPNP, CIC,
recently filmed a video demonstrating the proper way to wash your hands. Stinchfield is senior director for infection prevention and control at Children’s Minnesota.
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NFID and GIANTmicrobes continue to collaborate to raise awareness about vaccine-preventable diseases. A portion of proceeds from all purchases of select GIANTmicrobes plush toys including flu, measles, HPV, and the brand new COVID-19, will be donated to NFID.
Due to extremely high demand, pre-orders for the new COVID-19 items will close on April 2, 2020 for delivery in June 2020.
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