Nationally Recognized Infectious Disease Experts Will Discuss and Encourage Flu Vaccination During the Pandemic

The Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF), a patient-centered non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for people with chronic illness, will host a live, 1-hour webinar on October 27 at 5pm EDT titled, “The Flu Vaccine and COVID-19: What People with Chronic Illness Need to Know.” Nationally recognized infectious disease and chronic disease health care providers will contribute their perspective and answer questions about why getting vaccinated against the flu is a priority this year, particularly for those living with chronic conditions such as inflammatory arthritis. The expert panelists will debunk common myths about the flu shot and share information about where and how to safely get the flu vaccine.

Panelists include:

• Dr. William Schaffner, MD, Medical Director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) and Professor of Preventive Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University
• Dr. Iris Navarro-Millan, MD, rheumatologist and Assistant Attending Physician, Hospital for Special Surgery; Assistant Professor of Medicine Weill Cornell Medicine; and rheumatologist, New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Navarro-Millan was recently featured in The New York Times article titled, How Covid Sends Some Bodies to War With Themselves
• Tasha Polster, RPh, Vice President of Pharmacy Quality, Compliance and Patient Safety for Walgreens

“Unfortunately, it’s likely that both the flu and COVID-19 virus will spread as fall and winter advances. Getting a flu vaccine during the 2020-2021 flu season is critical because even if the vaccine doesn’t prevent flu entirely, it can reduce a person’s risk for serious complications and possibly death,” said Dr. William Schaffner. “During this webinar, we will explain why flu vaccination bolsters an individual’s immunity while supporting the public’s health, and we’ll highlight its importance for people at higher risk for complications resulting from flu or coronavirus infection.”

Vaccination Will Protect Healthcare Resources

“If we can reduce the incidence of flu and complications from flu, not only does it improve short and long-term health outcomes for individuals, but it will conserve health care resources that are still needed to cope with patients who contract COVID-19,” said Dr. Iris Navarro-Millan. “When we all get vaccinated against flu, we protect ourselves, our families, our communities and vulnerable patient populations.”

The Flu Vaccine and COVID-19: What People with Chronic Illness Need to Know is a free event open to the general public and media

WHEN: Tuesday, October 27, 5pm ET

HOW: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7638779378985209615

“Flu vaccines are widely available at health care provider offices, retail pharmacies, and other locations hosting vaccination clinics at no cost to patients with most insurance plans. As those with chronic illnesses may be at greater risk for severe complications from COVID-19 and flu, we look forward to doing our part to help educate those who most need to be protected against the flu, particularly in a COVID-19 environment,” said Tasha Polster.

“The Global Healthy Living Foundation is committed to bringing evidence-based education and support to at-risk chronic disease patients who are especially susceptible to complications from coronavirus and flu, either due to weakened immune systems from their chronic conditions, or due to immune-suppressing medications that they use to treat those conditions,” said Louis Tharp, executive director and co-founder of the Global Healthy Living Foundation and CreakyJoints, its digital patient organization for people living with all forms of arthritis. “We’re excited to welcome our panelists to this important discussion and encourage people living with chronic disease, their family, friends, and the community at large to join this event, ask questions, and make a plan to get vaccinated for flu.”

About Global Healthy Living Foundation

The Global Healthy Living Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for people living with chronic illnesses (such as arthritis, osteoporosis, migraine, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, and cardiovascular disease) by advocating for improved access to health care at the community, state, and federal levels, and amplifying education and awareness efforts within its social media framework. GHLF is also a staunch advocate for vaccines. The Global Healthy Living Foundation is the parent organization of CreakyJoints®, the digital arthritis community for millions of arthritis patients and caregivers worldwide who seek education, support, activism, and patient-centered research through ArthritisPower® (ArthritisPower.org), the first-ever patient-centered research registry for joint, bone, and inflammatory skin conditions. GHLF also hosts PainSpot (PainSpot.org), a digital risk assessment tool for musculoskeletal conditions and injuries. Visit www.GHLF.org for more information.

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