NACDS, National Forum kick off flu vaccine message from mayors nationwide

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention have released a 60-second video urging Americans to receive their flu vaccination. The video's debut coincides with National Influenza Vaccination Week, which runs Dec. 6 through 12 and highlights the importance of influenza vaccination. 

The video features 10 mayors from cities and towns throughout the nation — including Mayor Stephen Benjamin (Columbia, S.C.); Mayor Sharon Weston Broome (Baton Rouge, La.); Mayor Tito Brown (Youngstown, Ohio); Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr. (Augusta, Ga,); Mayor John Giles (Mesa, Ariz.,); Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba (Jackson, Miss.); Mayor Betsy Price (Fort Worth, Tex.); Mayor McKinley Price (Newport News, Va.); Mayor Nan Whaley (Dayton, Ohioj); and Mayor Victoria Woodards (Tacoma, Wash.) — and reminds everyone that it is not too late to get vaccinated against the flu.

NACDS’ alliance with the National Forum adds to the work done by 80 organizations as a part of NACDS’ communications campaign to raise awareness of flu vaccinations. The collaboration builds on the National Forum’s Move with the Mayor program, which focuses on physical activity to help combat chronic disease.

“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 and CEO Steve 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.”

“One of the best ways to protect each other during the pandemic is to get a flu shot,” said John 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.”