With September marking the official start to fall (and everything pumpkin spice), I am not sure how this year is flying by so quickly. It feels like just yesterday was the start of summer, and now here we are, planning for the 2023 AIRA National Meeting. Since time flies, be sure to mark your calendar to join us for the National Meeting from May 2 to 4 in sunny San Diego, California. I hope to see you all there!
September saw the results of the 2023 board elections. Congratulations to our new board members: Nancy Sharova, Stephen White, Marie Hartel, and Tiffany Dent. Additionally, a huge thank you to our outgoing board members Christy Gray and Kathryn Cruz for their years of service. I’m so appreciative of all our board members who lend their time and talent for the betterment of our organization.
We continue to work together to address ongoing challenges. As of October 4, 54 jurisdictions have reported 873,552 doses of monkeypox vaccine administered to the CDC. AIRA has hosted several meetings to discuss monkeypox challenges, best practices, and solutions with peers. We continue to update our AIRA monkeypox web page with relevant information as it becomes available.
The news of polio being found in wastewater prompted many of you to proactively assess polio coverage rates at the population level, as well as within populations with historically lower coverage levels. A pro tip shared by one jurisdiction: “Run coverage levels now!” It’s a good idea to have current coverage levels before the governor, legislature, or media starts asking. Please reach out to AIRA if we can support you in any way.
As the weather begins to cool and the leaves begin to change, I hope you can spend some time participating in all the fun fall activities.
Rebecca Coyle, MSEd
Executive Director