With the initial distribution and administration of a COVID-19 vaccine underway, leading U.S. medical, nursing and hospital organizations thanked health care professionals in an open letter today and urged them to continue their battle against COVID-19 by taking a vaccine and sharing their experience with others, noting their position as trusted and valued voices in their communities.
The open letter from the American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, and American Nurses Association is available here.
The full text is below:
An open letter to all health care professionals:
First, thank you. This year, health care professionals have sacrificed much to care for many, fighting COVID-19 skillfully, bravely and tirelessly. A grateful nation has watched and rightly bestowed upon you a legacy of respect. On behalf of our organizations and members, we add our own thanks for the tremendous dedication you each have shown in the face of a relentless pandemic. And yet, we must ask more.
While the arrival of vaccines is good news in the fight to defeat COVID-19, it does not signal an immediate end to our nation's suffering. Just as we have been pushing for adoption of the precautions we all know work - masking, hand hygiene and physical distancing - we must also push for high rates of vaccination within the U.S. population if we hope to overcome this virus. This will require trust in the COVID vaccination process, from the development, distribution and administration of a safe and effective vaccine as well as a willing public to get vaccinated.
As frontline caregivers, our essential role in protecting the health and wellbeing of our communities goes beyond the care we provide. As a valued and trusted voice, our example is perhaps the strongest health resource we have.
Our hope is simple; we urge you to get the COVID-19 vaccine and share your experience with others.
As physicians, nurses, hospital and health system leaders, we remain committed to supporting the rigorous scientific and regulatory process, establishing safe and effective processes for administering vaccines to all who are eligible and choose to get vaccinated, and to making critical information about vaccines available as it is released.
Thank you for working to improve the health and safety of our country.
Your continued partners in health,
American Hospital Association
American Medical Association
American Nurses Association