Organization recognized for comprehensive flu vaccination program

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 10, 2023) — National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF), a nonprofit research and advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring high-risk racial and ethnic populations receive optimal healthcare, is honored to receive an honorable mention for the Laura Scott 2022-23 Outstanding Influenza Season Activities from the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit. The award was presented on May 10th at the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit in Atlanta, GA.

The Laura Scott award recognizes innovative early and later influenza season activities across the lifespan (pediatric, adolescent and/or adult activities) embracing the spirit and dedication to the prevention of influenza and protecting individuals from vaccine preventable diseases embodied by Laura Scott in her work as Executive Director of Families Fighting Flu. Nominees were evaluated based on the areas of impact, collaboration, originality, overcoming challenges, and opportunities.

“We are thankful to the team at the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit for the honorable mention recognition for our influenza work,” said Dr. Gary Puckrein, President and Chief Executive Officer at National Minority Quality Forum. “At NMQF we take pride in advocating for and educating minoritized populations on the important health topics that affect them.”

The team recently relaunched For Your Health News (FYHN), NMQF’s new digital application that captures trending news about the health of Black, Brown and rural communities. Each day, FYHN presents its readers with the top stories selected from more than 80,000 online news outlets. The news site introduces users to the industry leaders, the entrepreneurs, the patient advocates, the clinicians, the elected officials who are challenging the old order by reimagining the American healthcare system stripped of historic inequities.   

NMQF’s influenza campaign urged Black and Hispanic communities to prevent serious illness from the flu by getting vaccinated. The comprehensive campaign launched fact sheets, appealed for patient stories on social media by promoting #MyFluStory as well as developed illustrated videos on four cultural values as identified by audience research data for communities of color, particularly those ages 60 and up: faith, safety, tradition and family. NMQF also stressed the importance of the high-dose flu vaccine after the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) updated its guidelines, following advocacy from NMQF and others. Additionally, NMQF partnered with health systems and community health workers through the Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity’s Health Champions program to provide access and education directly to community members and encourage flu vaccination. This multi-pronged approach reached millions of people with flu vaccine information and directly impacted hundreds of people with in-person outreach.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact
Adjoa Kyerematen
akyerematen@nmqf.org
202-220-8505