2026 NFID Annual Respiratory Season Kick-Off

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) Annual Respiratory Season Kick-Off was held on September 24, 2026 in Washington, DC.

This briefing brought together public health officials, leading medical and scientific experts, clinicians, patient voices, and media to share timely insights on respiratory disease prevention ahead of the season. The briefing highlighted the latest findings from NFID's annual respiratory survey and the launch of the National Respiratory Communications Initiative (NRCI).

NFID Medical Director Robert H. Hopkins Jr., MD, moderated the briefing, and featured speakers include:

• Kate Berry, MPP, Senior Vice President of Clinical Affairs and Strategic Partnerships with America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)
• Margot L. Savoy, MD, MPH, FAAFP, Chief Medical Officer at the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
• Anne Schuchat, MD, former Principal Deputy Director and two-time Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and former Director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
• Ryan A. Stanton, MD, FACEP, President-Elect of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)
• Gary Stein, Board Member of Families Fighting Flu, who helped create the nonprofit after his daughter died from influenza