Script Your Future launches eleventh annual student competition for innovations in medication adherence

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January 18, 2022

Media contact: National Consumers League – Carol McKay, carolm@nclnet.org, (412) 945-3242

Washington, DC—Today marks the launch of the eleventh annual Script Your Future Medication Adherence Team Challenge, a two-month-long intercollegiate competition among pharmacy student teams and faculty for creating solutions to raise awareness about medication adherence as a critical public health issue. The Challenge, hosted by the National Consumers League (NCL), is returning to university campuses across the country building on a decade of successful student competition and innovation. 

The Challenge is an integral part of Script Your Future, a campaign launched by NCL and its partners in 2011 to combat the problem of poor medication adherence in the United States, where nearly three out of four patients do not take their medication as directed. In addition to medication adherence, in 2022 teams will counsel patients on vaccine confidence and safe drug disposal. 

Both faculty and student participants from last year’s awarded teams have reflected on their experiences in the Script Your Future program: 

“The Script Your Future Team Challenge was a great way for our pharmacy students to collaborate with other health professional students and positively impact our community by being a part of the COVID-19 response efforts, vaccinating thousands of individuals against COVID-19, addressing vaccine hesitancy, as well as providing patient education regarding medication adherence. We appreciate the opportunity the Challenge offered our students, and we are looking forward to participating again this year!”  

—Lisa Hong, PharmD, Associate Professor, Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy 

“Participating in Script Your Future was a refreshing experience and helped me and my students step outside of our frustration with the COVID-19 pandemic and do something about it. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to work with colleagues and students from other programs toward a single goal. Everyone, especially the students, really stepped up and thought outside the box to achieve the goals of Script Your Future.”  

—Erin Gysbers, PA-C, Didactic Director, Assistant Professor, Loma Linda University 

“I am extremely proud of the efforts of our team to achieve vaccination rates as high as 96 percent in our community. This is just a small testament to what we are all capable of in contributing to keep our communities safe and I am excited for future efforts.”  

—Joseph Velasco, PharmD Class of 2022, Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy  

“The Script Your Future Team Challenge has given me the opportunity to create numerous online resources to help patients with their medication adherence and to increase their COVID-19 vaccine confidence. This experience challenged me to work creatively with our WesternU’s AMCP Research and Education committee to not only create helpful infographics, but to widen the accessibility of these resources through QR codes and a texting service. These electronic tools gave patients improved access to our helpful resources on our very own WesternU AMCP Health Helper website. We also expanded onto social media and physically delivered our resources to pharmacies, local communities, and schools in Pomona, California. Participating in this program has been an experience that will resonate through my future career.” 

—Andrew Pham, PharmD Class of 2024, Western University of Health Sciences College of Pharmacy  

As the nation continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, Script Your Future teams are encouraged to build their campaigns centering around vaccine confidence to help address hesitancy and mitigate further spread of the coronavirus. Teams are encouraged to tailor their outreach towards chronic health issues including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and respiratory illnesses. Challenge administrators also welcome the inclusion of other disease groups that would benefit from medication adherence-related interventions. Teams are also encouraged to integrate messaging on the importance of safe drug disposal. Patient counseling on this topic will help patients to know how to properly and safely dispose of their medications after they are no longer needed.  

Through March 28, inter-professional teams—including student pharmacists, nurses, doctors, and others—will implement creative approaches to outreach in their communities to raise awareness and improve understanding about medication adherence. At the end of the Challenge, teams submit entries for review by national partner organizations, and winners are recognized for their efforts to improve medication adherence. 

Last year, Team Challenge student health professionals were met with unique circumstances, hurdles, and obstacles as they navigated the historic COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in school closures, event cancelations, and a host of other challenges. In spite of this, more than 5,000 future healthcare professionals and volunteers from 78 participating health professions schools participated. Collectively, the teams directly counseled close to 150,000 patients and vaccinated over 134,000 consumers, nationwide. Since the Team Challenge began in 2011, more than 18,800 future healthcare professionals have participated, reaching nearly 26 million consumers. 

Last year’s national award winner was University of Charleston School of Pharmacy. Other schools winning category-specific honors included: University of the Sciences School of Pharmacy; Loma Linda School of Pharmacy; Howard University College of Pharmacy; Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy; University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy; and Western University College of Pharmacy. Additional participating schools received finalist and runner-up status across a variety of award categories. 

The Team Challenge is sponsored by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation, and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA). 

To learn about previous winners, visit Script Your Future’s online home. 

For more information on the Challenge, visit the Team Challenge community website. 

Tweet along with us during the Team Challenge using #SYFchallenge, and follow the campaign @IWillTakeMyMeds. 

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About National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

About Script Your Future

Script Your Future is a campaign of the National Consumers League (NCL), a private, non-profit membership organization founded in 1899. NCL’s mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information about the Script Your Future campaign, visit ScriptYourFuture.org. For more information on NCL, please visit nclnet.org.

National Consumers League statement on the death of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid

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December 30, 2021

Media contact: National Consumers League – Carol McKay, carolm@nclnet.org or (412) 945-3242

Washington, DC—The National Consumers League paid its respects this week to the Senator most responsible for the enactment in 2010 of the landmark Affordable Care Act, known also as “Obamacare,” which for the first time in American history made universal health care available to consumers. We thank Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, who died this week, for that critical achievement.

This statement is attributable to NCL Executive Director Sally Greenberg:

The National Consumers League pays tribute — upon his death — to former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, whose remarkable legacy includes navigating the adoption of the 2010 Affordable Care Act through the U.S. Senate. Reid credited the lack of health care available he faced growing up for his determination to get the ACA enacted. He noted that “a great nation can’t have upwards of 40 million to 50 million people with no way to go to a hospital or see a doctor.”

Reid recalled how he saved money working at a gas station to buy his mother a set of teeth and the lack of mental health services for his father, who ultimately died by suicide.

Reid also encouraged a young Illinois Senator, Barack Obama, to run for president. Obama credited Reid with enabling the adoption of his broader agenda. Earlier, while serving in the Nevada State Assembly, Reid got enacted a requirement that utility companies pay interest on large deposits they demanded from customers and championed the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

While in Congress, Reid consistently fought off efforts by President George W. Bush to privatize Social Security; NCL has long opposed the campaign to privatize this sacred program, which was conceived in the Progressive Era by NCL’s early leaders to protect older Americans from dire poverty. In addition, Reid’s federal environmental agenda took Nevada from 67,000 acres of wilderness to more than 4 million acres of new parks and open spaces and as Majority Leader, Reid shut off funding for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste site — earmarked for Nevada — citing the health and safety risk to his constituents.

Harry Reid’s life was a true American “rags to riches” story. He rose from dire poverty in Nevada, raised with no running water, telephone, or indoor bathroom. He was elected at age 28 to the Nevada State Assembly and came to Washington, where he joined the U.S. Capital Police and attended George Washington Law School at night. Upon his return to Nevada, he headed the state’s gaming commission for five years; Reid is credited with routing out the influence of long entrenched organized crime from the casino industry.

Reid was elected to the U.S. Senate and eventually became Majority Leader. Though he was soft spoken, Reid used his amateur boxing skills to fight for the interests of consumers and workers. He used to say that “I always would rather dance than fight, but I know how to fight.”  Most Americans likely have no idea how important a force for good Senator Reid was, and achieving passage of the ACA was the highpoint of his career.

As Senator Joe Lieberman noted: “Harry Reid managed something that seemed almost unthinkable: he held every single Senate Democrat — 60 of them, at least at the crucial moment — together to vote for a sprawling, unpopular bill that raised taxes, cut Medicare spending, and insured tens of millions of Americans.”

Americans who today have access to affordable, high quality health care owe Senator Reid a huge debt of gratitude. His tremendous skill, persistence, and passion made the ACA a reality. Harry Reid got “health care for all” over the finish line in the Senate. The National Consumers League is honored to pay tribute to this truly great man.

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

NCL statement on passing of Pension Rights Center Founder Karen Ferguson

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December 30, 2021

Media contact: National Consumers League – Carol McKay, carolm@nclnet.org or (412) 945-3242

Washington, DC—The National Consumers League mourns the death of lifelong pension rights lawyer and crusader who died Dec. 23, 2021. Ferguson founded the Pension Rights Center in 1976 with $10,000 in seed money from Ralph Nader.

Ferguson brought a deep intellect, kindness, and passion to the complicated field of pension rights. This statement is attributable to National Consumers League Executive Director Sally Greenberg:

We mourn the death of Karen Ferguson, who launched the Pension Rights Center when the landmark Employee Rights Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) was in its infancy.  Workers and retirees badly needed a voice to combat the powers of corporate interests who would try to reduce or eliminate pension protections and Karen Ferguson and the Pension Rights Center were that voice. Karen was equally comfortable talking to members of Congress as she was sitting down with workers concerned about losing their pensions. She also knew how to get things done and as a result, achieved signal wins — alongside her dynamic colleague Karen Friedman and devoted board of directors — like the Butch Lewis Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act and the Pension Counseling and Information Program under the Older Americans Act.

The National Consumers League salutes Karen Ferguson’s legacy and mourns her passing.

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

NCL offers support for Increasing Access to Biosimilars Act (S. 1427)

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December 16, 2021

Media contact: National Consumers League – Carol McKay, carolm@nclnet.org or (412) 945-3242

Washington, DC—The National Consumers League (NCL) is pleased to support the Increasing Access to Biosimilars Act (S. 1427), as introduced by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and John Cornyn (R-TX). This Act directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to launch a pilot program that increases Medicare payments for providers who use biosimilars. Representative Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) introduced a similar bill (H.R. 2869) in the House of Representatives.

Since 2014, the growth in pharmaceutical spending has been primarily driven by increased spending on biologic drugs. Biosimilars demonstrate no clinically meaningful differences in terms of safety, purity, and potency against their FDA-approved biologic counterpart, and are generally 15 percent to 35 percent lower in price. Therefore, biosimilars pose great potential to reduce health care costs.

The Increasing Access to Biosimilars Act would create a new pilot program administered by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) that aims to encourage physicians to prescribe less expensive biosimilars through shared savings. Shared savings is a payment strategy that offers providers a percentage of any net savings generated in order to reduce health care spending overall.

The following statement can be attributed to NCL’s Health Policy Director Jeanette Contreras:

“This legislation would not only broaden access to cost-saving biosimilars and reduce unnecessary spending on costly biologics, but it could also foster greater competition. In addition, it signals to future participants the viability of the biosimilars market, which is a win for consumers.

NCL believes that well-aligned payment incentives can steer providers toward cost-saving behavior with the overall objective of reducing Medicare expenditures. We strongly urge Congress to pass the Increasing Access to Biosimilars Act as the FDA continues to approve new biosimilars to market at increasing rates.”

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

Groups offer support for Forbidding Airlines from Imposing Ridiculous (FAIR) Fees Act of 2021

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December 9, 2021

Media contact: National Consumers League – Carol McKay, carolm@nclnet.org or (412) 945-3242

Washington, DC—The National Consumers League, Business Travel Coalition, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Reports, and U.S. PIRG have signed onto a letter to Members of Congress in support of the Forbidding Airlines from Imposing Ridiculous (FAIR) Fees Act of 2021. Their letter appears below:

Dear Chairman DeFazio, Ranking Member Graves, Chairman Larsen, and Ranking Member Graves:

The undersigned consumer advocacy organizations support the Forbidding Airlines from Imposing Ridiculous (FAIR) Fees Act of 2021. This bill would protect consumers from unreasonable fees that airlines have reimposed as consumer demand to fly has rebounded from the pandemic.

Millions of consumers are annually charged excessive fees for checking baggage, changing reservations, canceling flights, and other services.[1] These fees are a major profit center for the airlines. For example, U.S. airlines collected $5.8 billion in baggage fees alone in 2019.[2] Compare this to analyst estimates that it costs airlines less than $20 per bag flown to provide the service.[3]  Furthermore, exaggerated change and cancellation fees are especially punitive as consumers cannot plan for unexpected events that force them to adjust their reservations.

The capture of more than 80% of domestic air traffic by just four U.S. airlines is a clear predicate of the rise in ancillary fees.[4] The non-competitive nature of the industry has allowed predatory practices to go unchallenged for too long. To be clear, airlines have the right to charge appropriate fees to cover operational costs and to make a profit. However, the supra-competitive amounts that airlines collect for providing basic services are unjustifiable. Prior to some ancillary fees being waived during the COVID-19 pandemic, such add-on fees were a steadily increasing source of revenue for the industry.[5] Now that the airlines’ moratorium on many of their fees has ended, we are concerned that this trend will resume.

The federal government must act to protect consumers from being forced to pay billions of dollars in bogus charges. The FAIR Fees Act, which has received bipartisan support,[6] would bring much-needed relief to travelers by requiring fees to be reasonable and reflect the actual costs of the services provided.

In addition to this immediate cost-saving benefit to consumers, the FAIR Fees Act would also direct the Department of Transportation to review any other fees charged by airlines and work to reduce airlines’ untaxed revenue. Since the IRS does not consider baggage fees or other ancillary fees to be related to the transport of a person, airlines do not pay excise taxes on the earnings they receive from these charges.[7] As ancillary charges have become a major source of revenue for the industry, this loophole has allowed airlines to avoid (conservatively) hundreds of millions of dollars in federal taxes.[8] Therefore, reining in ancillary fees would help reduce the amount of untaxed income this industry receives.

We applaud Representative Cohen for his continued leadership in protecting consumers from the exorbitant ancillary charges found on too many plane tickets. We urge your respective committees to report the legislation without delay.

Sincerely,

National Consumers League
Business Travel Coalition
Consumer Federation of America
Consumer Reports
U.S. PIRG

 

cc:       Members, House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure

[1] USA TODAY. Shopping for flights? Change fees and other pre-pandemic penalties are back or returning soon on cheapest tickets. April 2, 2021. Online: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2021/04/02/covid-travel-airlines-change-fees-return-cheap-tickets-american-united/4805128001/

[2] CNBC. US airlines charged almost $5 billion in baggage fees last year—here’s how to avoid them. May 16, 2019. Online: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/15/us-airlines-brought-in-almost-5-billion-dollars-in-baggage-fees-last-year.html

[3] McCartney, Scott. “What It Costs An Airline to Fly Your Luggage,” Wall Street Journal. (November 25, 2008). Online: https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122757025502954613 (Note: $15 in November 2008 is equal to $19.11 when adjusted for inflation in September 2021, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.)

[4] Openmarketsinstitute.org. Airlines & Monopoly. Online: https://www.openmarketsinstitute.org/learn/airlines-monopoly

[5] Statista.com. Total ancillary revenue in the airline industry from 2011 to 2020. December 4, 2020. Online: https://www.statista.com/statistics/788849/airline-industry-ancillary-revenue/

[6] Office of Senator Edward J. Markey. “FAA Bill a Missed Opportunity to Protect Passengers from Ridiculous Airline Fees, Says Senator Markey.” Press release. (October 3, 2018) Online: https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/faa-bill-a-missed-opportunity-to-protect-passengers-from-ridiculous-airline-fees-says-senator-markey

[7] Smarter Travel. If Fees Were Taxed, Would Airlines Ditch Them? July 16, 2020. Online: https://www.smartertravel.com/if-fees-were-taxed-would-airlines-ditch-them/

[8] Testimony of Dr. Gerald Dillingham (Director of Civil Aviation Issues, U.S. Government Accountability Office) before the House Subcommittee on Aviation. (July 14, 2010) (“However, if checked bag fee revenues that airlines reported in fiscal year 2009 had been subject to the excise tax on domestic travel, it would have generated about $186 million, or somewhat less than 2 percent of the Trust Fund revenues for 2009.”) Online: https://www.congress.gov/event/111th-congress/house-event/LC6763/text?s=1&r=9

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

National Consumers League salutes outgoing Consumer Federation of American Executive Director Jack Gillis on his 38 years of service to consumers

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November 19, 2021

Media contact: National Consumers League – Carol McKay, carolm@nclnet.org or (412) 945-3242

Washington, DC—The National Consumers League salutes Jack Gillis on his 38 years of service to the consumer movement; Gillis has announced his retirement as Executive Director of the Consumer Federation of America.

“The National Consumers League’s Board of Directors and staff salute Jack Gillis and thank him for his decades of service and marvelous career dedicated to improving the lives of consumers,” said Jenny Backus, Pastor Herrera, Susanna Montezemolo, and Debbie Berlyn, NCL board members who have known and worked with Jack over the years. “He has made us all proud to be consumer advocates. We will miss his leadership and know the consumer movement is forever changed because of his dedication and commitment.”

Jack Gillis is also a well published author, co-author, and editor of 75 consumer books including The Car Book, published for 40 consecutive years. He served for 10 years as a contributing consumer correspondent for NBC’s Today Show representing CFA, was Good Housekeeping’s personal finance columnist, and was a child product safety columnist at Child Magazine.”

Gillis has been with CFA since 1983, serving as Director of Public Affairs and, since 2018, as Executive Director. “Jack Gillis has been a leader, mentor, and friend to several generations of consumer advocates. Jack’s vision for consumer issues is legendary, and he is known to the Washington establishment – members of Congress, regulators, and public interest advocates alike — as the face of consumer advocacy. Jack spearheaded CFA’s leadership on a wide variety of consumer issues, including auto safety, financial services, housing, privacy, food, and product safety issues,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL’s Executive Director. “Jack always had a ready ear, provided support and sound advice to me and countless others toiling in the grapevines on behalf of consumers. It’s a tough line of work and we will miss his camaraderie and friendship.  We wish him well in this exciting new chapter of life.”

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

National Consumers League statement on the passage of the INFORM Consumers Act

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November 17, 2021

Media contact: National Consumers League – Carol McKay, carolm@nclnet.org or (412) 945-3242

Washington, DC—The National Consumers League (NCL), America’s pioneering consumer advocacy organization, today applauded the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for its vote to report out H.R. 5502, the Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM Consumers) Act.

The following statement is attributable to NCL’s Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud John Breyault:

Over the past 20 months, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the important role that online sales platforms play in connecting consumers to the marketplace. As consumers have flocked to these marketplaces, the need for these platforms to better address unsafe products, counterfeiting, and the policing of third-party sellers has become ever more urgent.

Providing consumers with basic information about whom they are buying products from and how to contact the company is a cornerstone of consumer protection. We strongly support Congresswoman Schakowsky’s and Congressman Bilirakis’ bipartisan bill and urge the full House of Representatives to swiftly approve this legislation.

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

National Consumers League launches FactsAboutRecycling.org to inform consumers about recyclability, sustainability of food and beverage packaging

/in Consumer Protection, Environment, Featured Home - Consumer Protection, Press release/by

November 15, 2021

Media contact: National Consumers League – Carol McKay, carolm@nclnet.org or (412) 945-3242

Washington, DC—Today, on America Recycles Day, National Consumers League (NCL) launched FactsAboutRecycling.org, an information hub where consumers can learn more about what actually happens to the food and beverage packaging they toss in the recycling bin. The new site houses an animated video to help explain the recycling system, correct misinformation proliferated through marketing, and educate and empower consumers to make environmentally sustainable purchases.

“Just because something can be put in the recycling bin doesn’t mean it will truly end up being recycled,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL’s executive director. “Consumers deserve to know the truth about the sustainability of their purchases, so they can make the most informed decisions possible.”

Building upon NCL’s sustainability and honesty-in-marketing work over the past year, including infographics, podcasts, and a white paper entitled Examining Sustainability, Consumer Choice, and Confusion in Food and Beverage Packaging, FactsAboutRecycling.org gives consumers and environmental advocates fresh insight into the true sustainability of plastic, glass, metal, and cartons.

“Misleading marketing claims don’t just harm consumers; they can harm the environment and exacerbate the ongoing plastic pollution crisis. Better information will support smarter purchasing,” said Greenberg.

For more information, visit www.FactsAboutRecycling.org.

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

NCL applauds FDA nomination of Robert Califf

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November 15, 2021

Media contact: National Consumers League – Carol McKay, carolm@nclnet.org or (412) 945-3242

Washington, DC—The National Consumers League extends congratulations to Dr. Robert Califf for his nomination to serve as Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As COVID-19 persists and the nation continues to face unprecedented public health challenges, consumers rely on the FDA to ensure the safety and efficacy of our food and prescription drug supply.

NCL Executive Director Sally Greenberg weighed in with the following statement:

“NCL welcomes Dr. Robert Califf to the important role as Commissioner of the FDA. We have worked with Dr. Califf during previous administrations and can attest that he brings a longstanding commitment to FDA’s crucial role of overseeing the nation’s food and drug industry as well as medical devices and cosmetics. Dr. Califf has a long list of priorities ahead of him, and it is our hope that we can look forward to working with him on matters of consumer protection.

Among NCL’s consumer safety concerns is the proliferation of unregulated CBD products in the marketplace, encouraging confidence in vaccines for the prevention of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, ensuring accurate food and nutrition labeling information for consumers, and making prescription drugs accessible and affordable for all Americans.

NCL worked productively with Dr. Califf during his previous appointment as FDA commissioner, and we look forward to continuing to serve as a resource to the FDA under his leadership to ensure that both patient and consumer protection remain the highest priority.”

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

NCL applauds approval of the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine

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November 2, 2021

Media contact: National Consumers League – Carol McKay, carolm@nclnet.org or (412) 945-3242

Washington, DC—The National Consumers League (NCL) applauds the coordinated efforts of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to approve the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. Consumers should be reassured that an unbiased advisory committee composed of medical and scientific experts have reviewed the data and have held public meetings to provide Americans with a transparent approval process.

“NCL is committed to educating consumers about vaccine safety and efficacy in order to increase vaccine confidence. Every day, parents make tough decisions to keep their children safe. We want parents to feel informed and empowered in their decision to vaccinate their children. As a parent of two boys ages 8 and 10, I’m looking forward to being able to protect my children from COVID-19 and put this pandemic behind us,” said NCL Director of Health Policy Jeanette Contreras.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to use the CDC’s V-Safe mobile app to tell the CDC about any side effects experienced after getting vaccinated. Parents will be able to add dependents to their account and get reminders if you need an additional dose. Register here: https://vsafe.cdc.gov/

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.