Sep 25, 2018   SOURCE: PR NewsWire

U.S. Surgeon General Emphasizes Importance of Influenza and Pneumococcal Disease Prevention

Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams, M.D., M.P.H., joins panel of medical and public health leaders to discuss final 2017-2018 flu vaccination coverage data and preparations for 2018-2019 season

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Following a particularly severe 2017-2018 flu season, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams, M.D., M.P.H, joined by a panel of medical and public health experts, will discuss the importance of annual influenza prevention in preparation for the upcoming flu season at a news conference presented by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID).

WHO: National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

WHEN: Thursday, September 27, 2018; 10-11 a.m. EDT

WHERE: National Press Club, 13(th) Floor, First Amendment Lounge, 529 14th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20045

    --  Webcast: http://www.workcast.com/register?cpak=4113129379447564
    --  Toll-free teleconference: 833-832-2121
    --  Toll/international teleconference: +1-706-902-0498

CONTACT: Lindsay Paul, lindsay.paul@unlimitedgroup.com / 212-886-2216

Influenza (flu), distinct from the common cold, infects millions of people in the U.S. each year. The severity of flu last season made headlines. The number of reported pediatric deaths exceeded the all-time regular-season high. Last season also had the highest rate of flu-related hospitalizations among older adults recorded since this type of surveillance began. While vaccination remains the best way to reduce the risk of influenza and related complications and to prevent the spread of the virus, influenza vaccination rates across certain populations are substantially lower than U.S. public health goals. As a common and often deadly complication of influenza, pneumococcal disease is a leading cause of serious illness including pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis. It is estimated that about one million U.S. adults get pneumococcal pneumonia each year and 5 to 7 percent of them will die. Vaccines are available and are recommended for routine use in children, adults age 65 years and older, and adults age 19 to 64 years with certain risk conditions including diabetes, heart disease and lung disorders as well as people who smoke. Current U.S. pneumococcal vaccination rates are also below public health goals.

The expert panel will address:

    --  Vaccination trends: final vaccination coverage estimates for children,
        healthcare workers and pregnant women for the 2017-2018 flu season
    --  A new view of influenza and influenza vaccines
    --  Who should get vaccinated? When and where to get vaccinated?
    --  The importance of vaccination for people with chronic health conditions
    --  Vaccine composition, supply and vaccine options
    --  Best approaches to fighting flu: prevention and treatment
    --  The burden of pneumococcal disease and the benefits of vaccination

In addition to Dr. Adams, panelists will include:

    --  William Schaffner, M.D., (Moderator), NFID Medical Director and
        Professor of Preventive Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt
        University School of Medicine
    --  Wendy Sue L. Swanson, M.D., M.B.E., Chief of Digital Innovation, Seattle
        Children's Hospital
    --  Laura E. Riley, M.D., Given Foundation Professor and Chair, Department
        of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medicine

Representatives from other leading public health and medical organizations, including American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Physicians, American Lung Association, American Nurses Association, American Pharmacists Association, and Families Fighting Flu will be available to provide context around data.

VISUAL/PHOTO:

Dr. Adams will lead by example and receive a flu vaccination on site, which will be available as a photo opportunity. He will be joined by all panelists as well as Scott Gottlieb, M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs at the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, and Joe Thomas, former Cleveland Browns player and a former NCAA college football Outland Trophy winner (best interior lineman), who will be present to encourage everyone to tackle the flu this season.

National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID)
Contact: Lindsay Paul
lindsay.paul@unlimitedgroup.com / 212-886-2216

/PRNewswire -- Sept. 25, 2018/

SOURCE National Foundation for Infectious Diseases