‘Vax Facts’ Virtual Forum Will Be Hosted By Stony Brook Medicine

STONY BROOK, NY — A group of experts from Stony Brook will discuss the science of vaccines during a virtual event on Tuesday.

The forum, dubbed “Vax Facts: Immunization Education and Awareness with Experts from Stony Brook Medicine,” will touch on "misconceptions and address concerns about surrounding key vaccinations, including those for COVID-19, influenza, and human papillomavirus," according to a news release.

The event will start at noon.

The forum was organized because "it’s imperative" residents know the facts about the vaccination, “as we continue to battle against the Coronavirus and approach flu season," officials stated in a news release.

The event will be moderated by Dr. Sharon Nachman, who is professor of pediatrics and associate dean for research at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, as well as the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases' chief at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital.

Panelists will include Dr. Jill Cioffi, assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University and medical director of ambulatory primary care pediatrics at Stony Brook Children's Hospital.

Dr. Lauren Ng, who is assistant professor of pediatrics at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University and primary care pediatrics at Stony Brook Children's Hospital, will also speak on the panel.

Officials went on to say that the ongoing pandemic has created "unprecedented challenges" for health care providers, as well as patients, and a recent study has revealed a 71 percent drop in healthcare visits for seven to 17-year-olds, who should receive “critical vaccines” such as Tdap, HPV, and meningitis.

The HPV vaccine is recommended for boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 12 "because it works best when given before exposure to HPV," but it can be given as early nine years old and as late as 26 for men and women, if they did not get vaccinated when they were younger, officials said.

Over 270 million doses of the HPV vaccine have been given worldwide since 2006, but nearly half of adolescents in the state have not been vaccinated as it has been recommended, officials said.

Almost 2,600 people are diagnosed with cancer caused by HPV yearly, so to help educate about the importance of the HPV vaccination for cancer prevention, the Stony Brook University Cancer Center has obtained a grant, which was funded by the state Department of Health and Health Research Inc., to promote the vaccine, according to officials.

The live-streamed event can be seen on:

Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stonybrookmedicine/posts/4181276798594857 or Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlmY5d_QUTE

For more information on Stony Brook Medicine’s vaccine program visit, https://www.stonybrookmedicine.edu/vaccine