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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 8, 2020 |
Contact: Debbie Martinez 909-815-7101 |
National Forum, NACDS, AAMA, OMA Kick off National Influenza Vaccination Week with a Message from Mayors Nationwide
Patient-centered organization, pharmacy group, release 60-second video featuring mayors from cities and towns across the country, urging Americans that it is not too late to get vaccinated against the flu
Washington, DC. – The National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), the African American Mayors Association, and the Ohio Mayors Alliance today released a 60-second video featuring 10 mayors urging Americans to get their flu vaccination. The public service announcement supports National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW), a national awareness week being observed December 6-12 that highlights the importance of influenza vaccination.
The featured mayors lead cities and towns throughout the nation. They include Mayor Stephen Benjamin (Columbia, SC); Mayor Sharon Weston Broome (Baton Rouge, LA); Mayor Tito Brown (Youngstown, OH); Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr. (Augusta, GA); Mayor John Giles (Mesa, AZ); Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba (Jackson, MS); Mayor Betsy Price (Fort Worth, TX); Mayor McKinley L. Price, DDS (Newport News, VA); Mayor Nan Whaley (Dayton, OH); and Mayor Victoria Woodards (Tacoma, WA). The mayors remind everyone that it is not too late to get vaccinated against the flu.
The collaboration builds on the National Forum’s Move with the Mayor™ (MWTM) program — which focuses on physical activity to help combat chronic disease. The National Forum with NACDS’ alliance adds to the extensive work by more than 80 organizations as a part of NACDS’ communications campaign to raise awareness of flu vaccinations.
”One of the best ways to protect each other during the pandemic is to get a flu shot,” said John M. Clymer, Executive Director of the National Forum. “Republican and Democratic mayors agree that getting a flu shot will help open schools and the economy and keep our hospitals from being overwhelmed. It is great to have mayors, who are trusted figures in their communities, leading by example and adding their voices to this call to action. Two hundred million Americans are at elevated risk for flu and its complications because of their age or pre-existing conditions. The flu vaccine is safe and effective and helps you protect your family and friends.”
“NACDS is pleased to be partnering with the National Forum to kick off this year’s National Influenza Vaccination Week, and we appreciate the mayors from cities and towns across the nation who are amplifying and unifying their local voices to encourage flu vaccinations as a critical way to protect their communities,” said NACDS President & CEO Steven C. Anderson. “The convergence of COVID-19 and flu means receiving your flu immunization is more important than ever before. Community pharmacists are among those trusted healthcare professionals helping Americans get flu and other routine vaccinations, and they are prepared to help provide convenient access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccinations when the time comes.”
Learn more about the benefits of getting your flu shot and where to safely get your flu shot by visiting TheRaceto200M.com. Please also share via social media with #TheRaceTo200M.”
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The National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention brings together the most dynamic and diverse organizations in cardiovascular health, providing a forum and outlet for organizations to amplify their voices. Our members currently represent more than 80 national and international organizations from the public and private healthcare organizations, as well as faith, advocacy, academic, and policy settings. The National Forum is an independent non-profit, 501(c)(3), voluntary health organization. To learn more, visit www.nationalforum.org.
NACDS represents traditional drug stores, supermarkets and mass merchants with pharmacies. Chains operate over 40,000 pharmacies, and NACDS’ over 80 chain member companies include regional chains, with a minimum of four stores, and national companies. Chains employ nearly 3 million individuals, including 155,000 pharmacists. They fill over 3 billion prescriptions yearly, and help patients use medicines correctly and safely, while offering innovative services that improve patient health and healthcare affordability. NACDS members also include more than 900 supplier partners and over 70 international members representing 21 countries. Please visit NACDS.org
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The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) is the only organization exclusively representing African-American mayors in the United States. AAMA exists to empower local leaders for the benefit of their citizens. The role of the African American Mayors Association includes taking positions on public policies that impact the vitality and sustainability of cities; providing mayors with leadership and management tools; and creating a forum for member mayors to share best practices related to municipal management. To learn more, please visit www.OurMayors.org
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The Ohio Mayors Alliance is a bipartisan coalition of mayors in Ohio’s largest urban and suburban communities. By coming together and speaking with one voice about the challenges and opportunities of Ohio’s cities, we can more effectively advocate for our communities and our constituents. To learn more, please visit OhioMayorsAlliance.org
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