135 - Dr. William Schaffner, Medical Director, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases: Learnings from 18 Months of Covid and the Future of Vaccine Science

Dr. William Schaffner, a familiar and nationally recognized face and trusted voice on all matters COVID during the pandemic, is an infectious disease colleague of mine … when I was doing heart and lung transplants at Vanderbilt University medical enter. Today he is the medical director and past president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. He's Professor of Preventive Medicine in the Department of Health Policy and Professor of Medicine in the Infectious Diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. A little over a year ago, Dr. Schaffner joined us as one of the nation's leading experts in infectious diseases… to shed light on the novel virus we now …all know too well, …Covid-19. Today he's joining us again to share all that we've learned, what we're still learning, what we can anticipate, and how this record-setting scientific progress is changing the future of science forever. Stay tuned and together we will learn a lot. For more information about the topics in today's episode: • Article by Dr. William Schaffner, "With a global pandemic, it is more important than ever to keep up on recommended vaccinations," https://www.bcbsprogresshealth.com/insights/with-a-global-pandemic,-it-is-more-important-than-ever-to-keep-up-on-recommended-vaccinations • Vaccines: Safe, effective and necessary: https://www.bcbsprogresshealth.com/data/vaccines-safe-effective-and-necessary • Vaccine Myth vs. Fact: https://www.bcbsprogresshealth.com/myth-vs-fact For more on how BlueCross BlueShield companies are working to address Covid-19 and the health challenges brought on by the pandemic: • Aiding the most vulnerable seniors with vaccines: https://www.bcbsprogresshealth.com/five-min-read/aiding-the-most-vulnerable-seniors-with-vaccines- • Postponement of routine care due to COVID-19 increases public health risk: https://www.bcbsprogresshealth.com/data/postponement-of-routine-care-due-to-covid-19-increases-public-health-risk • Fighting for America's health since the start of the pandemic: https://www.bcbsprogresshealth.com/community/fighting-for-americas-health-since-the-start-of-the-pandemic