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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 23 , 2021 |
Contact: Kathleen Bashur, NACDS, (703) 837-4367 John Clymer National Forum (202) 903-7303 Ben Cannatti, FCL (202) 297-9121 |
Mayors Unite with NACDS, National Forum and Forum for Community Leaders to Enhance COVID Vaccine Confidence and Uptake During National Month of Action
To reach the nation’s goal of administering at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine to 70% of U.S. adults by the Fourth of July, Republican, Democratic and Independent mayors are urging members of their communities who have not yet been vaccinated to join with them in receiving their COVID-19 vaccine.
Arlington, VA – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and the National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention continue their COVID-19 vaccination initiative, collaborating with mayors from the Forum for Community Leaders (FCL) and joining in the “all-of-America-sprint” to get 70% of U.S. adults vaccinated with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine by July 4.
On Wednesday, June 2, President Joe Biden declared the month of June a “National Month of Action” to boost vaccinations, recognizing mayors’ and pharmacies’ continued and pivotal role in encouraging COVID-19 vaccines and increasing vaccination rates in cities across the nation.
NACDS and the National Forum released six new PSAs featuring Mayor Acquanetta Warren (Fontana, CA); Mayor Christina Muryn (Findlay, OH); Mayor Dan Pope (Lubbock, TX); Mayor Brad Hart (Cedar Rapids, IA); Mayor Mike Coffman (Aurora, CO); and Mayor Billy Hewes (Gulfport, MS) and urging Americans who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine to get vaccinated to help return to the activities they know and love.
The videos follow the campaign’s official launch on April 8 alongside the African American Mayors Association (AAMA) which commenced with a 60-second PSA spotlighting Mayor Sharon Weston Broome of Baton Rouge, LA.
In addition to Mayor Warren (FCL Chair), leaders of other mayoral associations – including AAMA President, Mayor McKinley L. Price, DDS (Newport News, VA), and U.S. Conference of Mayors President, Nan Whaley (Dayton, OH) – are among the mayors participating in the initiative.
“NACDS is pleased to continue this important collaboration with the National Forum and with the strong support of FCL and mayors nationwide. Pharmacists and mayors are among some of the most trustworthy community messengers and have a critical role to play when it comes to encouraging vaccinations,” said NACDS President & CEO Steven C. Anderson. “Advancing vaccine confidence and uptake is not a one-size-fits-all approach. As we continue our efforts, we look forward to engaging in COVID-19 vaccination dialogue with myriad groups and individuals in every corner of America and to working alongside other trusted and local voices to reach those individuals hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
“NACDS member pharmacies are proud to continue to step up and respond to President Biden’s call to action to vaccinate as many Americans as possible during this National Month of Action.”
“We all want to live as free as we did before the pandemic. Choosing to get vaccinated will help all of us get back to doing just that. The freedom and opportunity that await our communities as we put this pandemic behind us are enormous. The work of getting this important message out to our communities has been essential. The value of the partnership of these three groups working together – across the nation – cannot be overstated. This is a key factor to getting our communities back to healthy, normal and connected lives,” said Fontana, CA Mayor and Forum for Community Leaders Chair Acquanetta Warren.
“Getting more people vaccinated is essential to safely getting back to the people and activities we love and ensuring that the virus does not make another comeback. These mayors are sharing the facts on which they based their decisions to get vaccinated so that people in their communities can make informed choices about their own vaccinations,” said National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention Executive Director John Clymer.
“The mission of the Forum for Community Leaders is equipping local leaders with the tools they need to ensure the expansion of opportunity and prosperity in resilient, strong communities,” said FCL President Timothy J. Barnes. “Working alongside NACDS and the National Forum fits right in line with that mission as we get past the effects of this pandemic and continuing to move our communities forward.”
Visit http://bit.do/mwtmc19 to see additional videos and a growing list of participating mayors.
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NACDS represents traditional drug stores, supermarkets and mass merchants with pharmacies. Chains operate nearly 40,000 pharmacies, and NACDS’ 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.
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 90 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.
The Forum for Community Leaders (FCL) comes alongside conservative local leaders in their constant effort to identify solutions to the emerging and evolving list of challenges facing the nation’s communities around infrastructure, energy, opportunity, environmental stewardship, and more. FCL is able to identify those challenges, and research, design, and share implementable solutions needed to make our communities stronger with CLA’s national caucus of conservative Mayors, City Council Members, and County Executives and Legislators. FCL is a 501(c)(4) organization responsible for educating citizens, industry leaders and elected officials at all levels of government and across the country. www.strongcommunityleaders.com