Quinolone Vigilance Foundation (QVF) Update

I asked Rachel Brummert, President of the QVF, to update the January, 2014 post about the QVF – https://floxiehope.com/2014/01/29/the-quinolone-vigilance-foundation-qvf/.  It turns out that a lot of updating needed to be done, so I’m making the update a whole new post.  Thank you to everyone involved with the QVF for all your efforts!  

There is a non-profit, charitable foundation devoted to raising awareness about the dangers of fluoroquinolone antibiotics and fluoroquinolone toxicity, advocating for victims, educating the medical community, and to funding research on fluoroquinolone toxicity. It is called The Quinolone Vigilance Foundation (the QVF) – www.saferpills.org.

Following is some information about the QVF:

History and Purpose

The QVF is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation established in 2009 and Incorporated in 2012. Its founders sought to establish professional credibility by reviewing the existing scientific literature that addressed adverse reactions from fluoroquinolones; recruited and networked medical researchers; and stimulated new research into this poorly understood issue. The QVF branched out in 2014 to educating the medical profession.

“Our mission is four-fold: Educating the medical profession about fluoroquinolones, advocating for victims of fluoroquinolone toxicity, raising awareness in the United States and abroad, and research. Advocacy, education, and research go hand in hand and gives a complete picture of the problem. Helping victims already affected and getting ahead of it so damage doesn’t happen in the first place is something we are very passionate about and we work hard to achieve,” explains Rachel Brummert, Executive Director of the QVF.

Advocacy and Outreach

• In the spring of 2014, the QVF began educating doctors in local practices and major medical centers.

• QVF has held six fundraisers since 2013 to raise funding for advocacy and education, and for the University of Rochester research study.

• QVF sells awareness merchandise:

www.cafepress.com/quinvigil

https://www.bravelets.com/bravepage/fluoroquinolone-life-qvf

http://konectidy.com/charity/quinolone-vigilance-foundation/

• QVF is in early stages of bringing in two new research studies.

• QVF continues to work with law firms so that victims of brand name fluoroquinolones can seek justice for their injuries. http://www.saferpills.org/resources/fluoroquinolone-lawsuits/

• QVF attended two FDA Hearings

• 2014- http://www.saferpills.org/contact/media-inquiries/quinolone-vigilance-foundation-asks-fda-reconsider-levaquin-use-children/

• 2015- QVF was asked to testify at a March 27, 2015 hearing regarding a proposed FDA rule which would hold generic drug makers accountable for the damage their products cause. https://collaboration.fda.gov/p16w66yyjfa/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal A decision is expected in February 2016.

• QVF continues to work with media outlets to warn viewers of the dangers of fluoroquinolone antibiotics. We provide information to reporters and assist in finding victims to be interviewed.

• QVF receives many requests from doctors offices and pharmacies for brochures and awareness cards to display. We also offer free brochures to anyone who wishes to pass them out in their communities. In addition, we offer downloadable brochures on our website under the Resources tab for anyone who wishes to print them out themselves. http://www.saferpills.org/print-download/

• Author, actor and international speaker Josh Rivedal asked QVF to participate in the i’Mpossible Project and the upcoming book The i’Mpossible Project: Volume 1 Reengaging With Life, Creating a New You due to be released on January 13, 2016 and available for pre-order on September 16, 2015. Per an agreement with the publisher, 100% of proceeds made from our contribution to the book will be donated to QVF and no person shall personally gain from the book. QVF has been approached by several media outlets to discuss the book and about the topic of fluoroquinolone toxicity. The book will be available in paperback and e-book, at major bookstores like Books A Million, Barnes & Noble and Amazon, and online as an ebook at BN.com, Kindle, iTunes, Nook, and Google Books. The i’Mpossible Project is a collection of powerful stories. The stories in this first volume are all about overcoming obstacles, reengaging with life, and creating new possibilities. Among the other authors are Academy Award Winner James Lecesne, and actress Ali Stroker of Fox’s GLEE. We are honored to participate and to bring fluoroquinolone toxicity awareness to an international audience.

• QVF partnered with the Mesh Warrior Foundation. http://www.saferpills.org/contact/media-inquiries/quinolone-vigilance-foundation-mesh-warrior-foundation-join-forces-to-raise-awareness-of-dangers-of-pharmaceutical-products/

• QVF produces awareness videos which can be readily shared to spread awareness and participates in podcasts and radio shows.

• YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLU8_J7YCE773rKbjAWdgw/videos

• Health Cosmos: http://www.healthcosmos.com/community/fluoroquinolone_toxicity_41

• Progressive Medical Center’s Hour of Power radio show: http://www.progressivemedicalcenter.com/antibiotics-concerns/?lang=en

• Floxie Hope podcast: http://www.floxiehopepodcast.com/floxie-hope-podcast-episode-003-rachel-brummert

• Journey to Wellness podcast: http://hwcdn.libsyn.com/p/d/a/2/da255c17bcd3794a/013__Edison_NJ_Chiropractor.mp3?c_id=8894298&expiration=1441230497&hwt=16a74f373b987e77e3266adf745c21ea

• Guest blogs:
  

  Baron & Budd Law Firm- http://baronandbudd.com/protecting-whats-right/category/pharmaceuticals-drugs/

  Clarkson Law Firm- http://clarksonlawfirm.com/category/blog/pharmaceutical-litigation-blog/

  Mesh Warrior Foundation- http://themeshwarrior.com/2015/04/12/meet-rachel-of-the-quinolone-vigilance-foundation-qvf/

Television Media stories featuring QVF volunteers

Arizona– http://www.abc15.com/news/local-news/investigations/experts-top-antibiotic-carries-hidden-side-effects-not-listed-on-the-label

Arizona– http://www.azcentral.com/videos/news/local/arizona/2014/11/04/18450053/

Michigan– http://www.wxyz.com/news/local-news/investigations/experts-top-antibiotic-carries-hidden-side-effects-not-listed-on-the-label

Indiana– http://www.theindychannel.com/news/u-s-world/experts-top-antibiotic-carries-hidden-side-effects-not-listed-on-the-label

Florida- http://www.wptv.com/money/consumer/experts-top-antibiotic-carries-hidden-side-effects-not-listed-on-the-label

Ohio– http://www.wcpo.com/news/health/healthy-living/levaquin-popular-antibiotic-carries-side-effects-not-listed-on-label

California– http://www.10news.com/news/investigations/patients-experts-popular-antibiotics-could-cause-permanent-damage-11242014

Georgia– http://www.wsbtv.com/videos/news/channel-2-investigates-complaints-about-popular/vDDZZS/

Georgia– http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/patients-suffer-devastating-side-effects-popular-a/nj4Br/

Georgia– http://www.wsbtv.com/videos/news/another-widow-says-medication-killed-her-husband/vDD6mw/

California– http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/03/04/southland-firefighter-says-popular-antibiotic-stripped-him-of-his-career/

Missouri– http://www.kctv5.com/story/28170151/fda-evaluates-popular-antibiotic-that-patients-say-makes-them-sicker

Virginia– http://wric.com/2015/04/21/8news-investigates-could-this-antibiotic-permanently-damage-your-health/

Virginia– http://wric.com/2015/05/20/8news-investigates-doctors-left-in-dark-about-prescription-drug-dangers/

Articles featuring QVF

Care Novate: http://carenovatemag.com/personal-account-prescription-destruction-black-box-warning/

United Kingdom: http://born-in-newyork.com/ciprofloxacin-antibiotic-resistance/

Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/it-pays-to-read-the-warnings-when-you-open-up-a-prescription/2015/08/03/a29e11b4-d70e-11e4-b3f2-607bd612aeac_story.html?tid=hpModule_9d3add6c-8a79-11e2-98d9-3012c1cd8d1e

Tulsa World: http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/idelle-davidson-the-risky-business-of-taking-antibiotics/article_bcce562a-bd78-5d92-b156-6926115be61c.html

Connecticut- http://www.courant.com/consumer/hc-ls-antibiotics-drug-reaction-20150821-story.html

Italy: http://m.ilgazzettino.it/m/gazzettino/articolo/NORDEST/1270894

QVF Staff/Volunteers

The QVF is comprised of a board of directors, non-board volunteers, and ambassadors/advocates from all over the world: The United States, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Australia, Algeria, and Italy.

The current volunteer staff positions are as follows:

Board

Rachel Brummert – Executive Director and President

Matthew Arnold – Vice President

Donna Schutz – Assistant Director and Ambassador Coordinator

Leslie Day – Corporate Secretary

Christina Manthos -Sorrell – Treasurer

Dr. Deanna Minkler – General Board Member

Dr. Joe Hudak – General Board Member

Non-board

Victoria Chiovare – Assistant Fundraising Director

Jenny Frank- Public Relations Director

All QVF positions are staffed by volunteers who generously donate their time and talents to promote the mission and values of the organization. No one within the organization receives compensation of any kind.

More information about the QVF can be found on www.saferpills.org and you can sign up for quarterly newsletters to keep up to date on QVF projects and activities.

To donate to QVF: donations@saferpills.org. All donations are tax deductible.