In this new world shrouded by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, things are changing so rapidly it is impossible to keep up. Each person is being called upon to do the best they can for the health and safety of themselves, their families, and their communities. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice (JACI: In Practice) team has been working hard to gather resources for our readers. We hope to be a continuing source of information and support for allergy/immunology clinicians in what seems like a desperate time of need.
By the time you read this Editorial we will have published online several articles related to the practice of allergy/immunology during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two of these articles are included in this issue of JACI: In Practice.1 , 2 Marcus Shaker, Matt Greenhawt, and 19 other experts from the United States and Canada have provided a very extensive guide to contingency planning during this unprecedented crisis.1 Their comprehensive Special Article covers a wide range of relevant topics, including clinical background regarding COVID-19 infections, prevention and control measures for healthcare workers, the implications of emergency social distancing on ambulatory allergy/immunology care services, and specific guidelines regarding each of the conditions allergist/immunologists commonly treat. This article also details methods and policies on how to use telemedicine/telehealth services as a safer alternative to in-person visits. In an excellent Editorial, Portnoy et al2 provide additional perspective, guidance, and resources for incorporating various forms of telemedicine into allergy/immunology practice during the current pandemic.
In addition to publishing articles, JACI: In Practice hosted a special edition of our Virtual Journal Club on April 1, 2020, during which authors Marcus S. Shaker, Matthew Greenhawt,1 and Jay Portnoy2 discussed their articles and answered questions from attendees. Benjamin Prince, Chair of the New Allergist/Immunologist Assembly, served as moderator. The webinar was recorded, and is eligible for continuing medical education (CME) credit. Visit https://education.aaaai.org/aaaai-webinars/VJCApr1Online to access the webinar.
A Twitter chat titled COVID-19: Pandemic Contingency Planning for Allergy and Immunology Clinic was also held. On March 31, 2020, authors1 David Stukus and Matthew Greenhawt answered clinicians' questions on how to plan during this pandemic. You can view the tweets from this event at https://bit.ly/2xjPyy3. Further Twitter chats are planned as new articles come online. #JACIIPCOVID
We are continuing to pursue other resources to help our clinician readers cope and practice during this crisis. Please visit our website (www.jaci-inpractice.org) to take advantage of the newest resources and view additional articles exploring other aspects of allergy/immunology care in these quite unprecedented circumstances.
We recognize that many of you have been directly affected by COVID-19 and want to offer our heartfelt sympathies to you. We also greatly appreciate those on the front lines of this World War V (for Virus) and extend our gratitude for all that you do. While our collective hearts are heavy with the sadness and burden of these extraordinary times, we hope to offer a light by which our readers can see.
“There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in.”
–Leonard Cohen, Selected Poems, 1956-1968
Footnotes
Conflicts of interest: D. M. Angel is Managing Editor of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. R. S. Zeiger reports grants from the National Institutes of Health, ALK Pharma, Genentech, MedImmune/AstraZeneca, Merck & Co., and Teva to Kaiser Permanente Southern California; personal fees from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology as Deputy Editor of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, AstraZeneca, DBV Technologies, Genentech, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; and royalty payments from UpToDate. S. H. Sicherer reports royalty payments from UpToDate and from Johns Hopkins University Press; grants to his institution from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, from Food Allergy Research and Education, and from HAL Allergy; and personal fees from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology as Deputy Editor of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, outside of the submitted work. D. A. Khan is Associate Editor of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. M. Schatz is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice and receives royalty payments from UpToDate and research grants to his institution from ALK, Merck, and Teva Pharmaceuticals.
References
- 1.Shaker M.S., Oppenheimer J., Grayson M., Stukus D., Hartog N., Hsieh E.W.Y. COVID-19: pandemic contingency planning for the allergy and immunology clinic. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020;8:1477–1488. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2020.03.012. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.Portnoy J., Waller M., Elliott T. Telemedicine in the era of COVID-19. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020;8:1489–1491. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2020.03.008. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]