Science and strategy to gather safely.

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Dr. Laura Blaisdell MD/MPH, FAAP is a pediatrician, advocate, camp medicine expert and researcher. She has served as a public health consultant to numerous national and international organizations, dozens of independently owned camps and both public and private schools.

Dr. Blaisdell currently serves as a medical advisor to the American Camp Association (ACA) and the Association of Camp Health (ACH).

A practicing physician, advocate and leader, Dr. Blaisdell specializes in smart, science-based solutions to complex public health challenges.

A common-sense approach to complex issues.

Board-Certified Pediatrician

Practicing community pediatrics and mentoring young doctors, Dr. Blaisdell has expertise and experience both inside and outside the exam room.

Child and Public Health Advocate & Leader

Dr. Blaisdell brings her common-sense, powerful and personal approach to legislative advocacy, media engagement and policy reforms on issues ranging from vaccination to gun safety to school health.

Camp Medicine Expert & Researcher

Dr. Blaisdell’s experience in camp medicine is founded on her over 20 years as a camp medical director, her evidence-based published research on managing H1N1 and COVID-19 in the camp setting and ground-breaking leadership during the pandemic in the science of how to gather safely.

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BLOG
Traveling to Camp Safely: How Do You Get There From Here?

Safely transporting staff and campers is one of the first challenges summer camps face.

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NEWS AND EVENTS

ACA and ACH Joint Statement on Summer 2023 COVID-19

ACA and ACH Joint Statement on Summer 2023 and COVID-19   On May 11, 2023, the US declared the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency signifying an end to certain federal policies and data collection. However, coronavirus remains a public health priority as camps begin our fourth summer with lower, albeit continued, infections, hospitalizations, […]

Testing at Overnight Summer Camps

April 26, 2022 Testing was a critical part of camps’ strategy to prevent and contain COVID-19 in summer 2021, and we see it playing an important role this summer as well. The right strategy for each camp may well differ due to your ‘COVID-19 goal’. Is your approach to do everything possible to keep COVID-19 […]

International Vaccines and Camp

April 6, 2022 Variations in international vaccines and vaccine schedules can cause confusion when trying to figure out who is “fully vaccinated” and “up-to-date”.  We often get asked questions about how camps should manage international vaccines. Here are a few of them…feel free to let us know if you have others! There are three vaccines […]
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BLOG & NEWS

ACA and ACH Joint Statement on Summer 2023 COVID-19

ACA and ACH Joint Statement on Summer 2023 and COVID-19   On May 11, 2023, the US declared the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency signifying an end to certain federal policies and data collection. However, coronavirus remains a public health priority as camps begin our fourth summer with lower, albeit continued, infections, hospitalizations, […]

Testing at Overnight Summer Camps

April 26, 2022 Testing was a critical part of camps’ strategy to prevent and contain COVID-19 in summer 2021, and we see it playing an important role this summer as well. The right strategy for each camp may well differ due to your ‘COVID-19 goal’. Is your approach to do everything possible to keep COVID-19 […]

International Vaccines and Camp

April 6, 2022 Variations in international vaccines and vaccine schedules can cause confusion when trying to figure out who is “fully vaccinated” and “up-to-date”.  We often get asked questions about how camps should manage international vaccines. Here are a few of them…feel free to let us know if you have others! There are three vaccines […]

“A Tough Nut to Crack”.

We are going into the third month of children ages 5-11 years of age having access to the COVID-19 vaccine that has been shown to decrease illness (including MIS-C), hospitalizations and death. As of January 5, 2022, the CDC recorded 7 million US children ages 5-11 have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine representing 25% […]

“The science and data doesn’t lie”.

We know that being vaccinated against COVID-19 decreases risk of hospitalization and death, even with our most recent variant, Omicron.  But data is increasingly showing this effect on the broader population level. The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram analysis compared highly vaccinated coastal counties Cumberland, Lincoln and Sagadahoc with three counties that are not, Somerset, […]

COVID Childhood Vaccine Hurdle

October 31, 2021 Last week the FDA approved the Pfizer vaccine for children 5-11 years of age and it is anticipated the CDC will green light the vaccine by mid week.  The winter holidays may be a lot safer for children and families as we ponder what celebrations we might be able to plan.  But, […]
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ABOUT

Laura Blaisdell MD/MPH, FAAP

is a board-certified, public health trained pediatrician and advocate with expertise in vaccine policy and camp medicine. She shares her expertise on local and national media and serves as medical advisor to the American Camp Association (ACA).