As part of the “Lung Disease Week at the ATS” program, and in conjunction with ATS Public Advisory Roundtable (PAR) partnered with the Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome Network and the LAM Foundation, the American Thoracic Society presented a live patient education webinar on Wednesday, November 8th at 1 pm – 2 pm ET. The topic of the webinar was “Practical Aspects of Vaccination”, and the featured panelists are Justin R. Ortiz, MD, MS, professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and, Kimberly A Fisher MD, associate professor at UMass Chan Medical School.
Other discussants were Donna Appell, RN executive director and founder of the Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome Network, and Susan Sherman CEO of the LAM Foundation–both are current members of the ATS Public Advisory Roundtable (PAR). The overall discussion focused on the developing path of novel vaccines and how they make the transition from laboratory to clinical trials. Also discussed was the role that patients, families, and patient advocacy groups may play in promoting public confidence in vaccine development, education, and benefits.