Pediatrics Research Roundup, Preview of the Red Book – Episode 59

Dr. First is Professor and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Vermont (UVM) Larner College of Medicine, Chief of Pediatrics at the UVM Children’s Hospital, and editor-in-chief of the AAP’s peer-reviewed journal Pediatrics. Dr. First also educates the public weekly as a broadcaster and columnist with his “First with Kids” segments that appear on radio, television, and in local newspapers.

Dr. David Kimberlin holds the Sergio Stagno Endowed Chair in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he is Vice Chair for Clinical and Translational Research and Co-Director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. Dr. Kimberlin is Editor of the 2021 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases (Red Book). He also was Editor of the 2018 and 2015 editions, and Associate Editor for the 2009 and 2012 editions. Since 2007, Dr. Kimberlin has served as the AAP Red Book liaison to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Through both the ACIP and the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases, Dr. Kimberlin has been involved throughout 2020 in major decisions nationally on allocation of the COVID-19 vaccines as they become available. This includes the assessment of the safety and efficacy of the vaccines in populations studied to date, and the development of the phased rollout of the vaccine to the American public to reduce transmission, morbidity, mortality of COVID-19 disease; to help minimize disruption to society and the economy, including maintaining healthcare capacity; and to ensure equity in vaccine allocation and distribution.