AVAC Spotlight: Andrea Polkinghorn, Sanford Health, Sioux Falls, SD Andrea Polkinghorn believes that you’re never too old to get vaccinated. Children, adolescents, and adults all need vaccinations to keep our communities healthy. As we age, childhood vaccinations begin to wear off, leaving adults susceptible to serious and potentially life-threatening diseases. She knows that it’s imperative that when it comes to …

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2030 Over the past several decades, the Healthy People immunization and infectious disease objectives have been a cornerstone to national efforts to protect against vaccine preventable conditions across the lifespan. For example, the goal for flu vaccine coverage for adults 18 and over is 70% but the actual rate is closer to 45%, while the goal for pneumococcal …

In 2009, Serese Marotta lost her five-year-old son Joseph to H1N1 flu. Despite her devastating loss, Serese soon joined the Board of Directors of Families Fighting Flu (FFF), an advocacy organization that includes families, healthcare professionals, and other advocates dedicated to increasing flu education and prevention, so that she could help other families with similar experiences. Today, she is the …

Please join us for a Hill exhibit of the Smithsonian Outbreak project on October 1st through October 5th in the Russell Senate Office Building Rotunda And join Sabrina Sholts, Smithsonian Curator of Outbreak, for a conversation about Outbreak at 4:30 p.m. on October 2nd   For more information, contact sdevito@nvgllc.com More about Outbreak: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/exhibits/outbreak/ Sponsored by:    

Check out the full NAVP_eNewsletter here. Advocates in Washington promote many different issues and causes. All face one question, regardless of the topic: Why is this important? For vaccines, establishing their importance in health begins with education. It hasn’t been that many years since deadly infections were the diseases people feared in the way we fear cancer or heart attacks. …

During National Immunization Awareness month, we are proud to spotlight Sarah Irsik-Good and the Kansas Foundation for Medical Care (KFMC), for their efforts to promote awareness and utilization of adult vaccines all year round. As the current President and CEO of KFMC Sarah Irsik-Good leverages her nearly 20 years of experience in healthcare delivery systems to encourage adult immunizations throughout …

Dr. Robert Hopkins is a leader in local and national efforts to improve access to vaccines. He is past governor of the Arkansas chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP), a board-certified physician in internal medicine and pediatrics, a member of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC), and maintains an active teaching and clinical practice, caring for both adults …

If you have a question regarding adult immunizations, Dr. Litjen (LJ) Tan is the person to call.  Having spent his whole career at the forefront of advancements in adult vaccine research, accessibility, and development, LJ is one of the most qualified and accessible people to talk about adult vaccinations, to say the least! LJ is the chief strategy officer of …

By 2030, the number of adults ages 65 and older in the United States is expected to grow to 71 million—at least 20 percent of the total population. It is particularly important during this stage of life to maintain healthy lifestyles and habits. Receiving recommended immunizations is an essential part of that process. Wilbur Chen, MD, MS, FACP, FIDSA, has …

Scientific Technologies Corporation (STC) has evolved in many ways over the past 30 years, but its mission has always remained the same: make it simple, affordable and efficient to provide vaccinations and improve people’s health. CEO Michael Popovich has led the company since its founding, and along with Todd Watkins, president, has been building STC into a public health technology company at …