AMA Statement on Advisory Council on Immunization Practices Recommendations for COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation

The following statement is attributable to: Susan R. Bailey, M.D., President, American Medical Association

"The American Medical Association (AMA) commends the Advisory Council on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for their efforts to ensure equitable allocation of COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they become available. We strongly support ACIP's evidence-based interim recommendation adopted today for phase 1a of the COVID-19 vaccine allocation process, which align with AMA's public health policy and Code of Medical Ethics. By first vaccinating our frontline health care personnel and residents of long-term care facilities against COVID-19, we will help ensure patients continue to receive vital care during the pandemic and safeguard those who are most at risk for severe illness and death associated with COVID-19.

"Given that COVID-19 vaccine supply won't initially be available to the entire population, ACIP's recommendations will be vital to prioritizing groups that should receive COVID-19 vaccine first to protect public health and reduce illness and death.

"The U.S. has a longstanding system for ensuring the safety and efficacy of vaccines. The AMA has long supported the vaccine recommendations of ACIP as the standard that physicians should follow when making decisions about vaccinating patients. The AMA serves as a liaison to ACIP and is represented on the COVID-19 work group, providing medical expertise and physician input for ACIP's consideration when making vaccine recommendations. We will continue to promote transparency in the COVID-19 vaccine development process to build public confidence in the use of authorized and recommended vaccine products."

Long Term Care Industry Applauds CDC Panel For Making Residents And Staff The Highest Priority For Vaccine Distribution

The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), representing more than 14,000 nursing homes and assisted living communities across the country that provide care to approximately five million people each year, released the following statement in response to the decision by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a panel of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to include long term care residents and staff, including nursing homes and assisted living communities, for the first round "1a" of vaccine distribution.

The following statement is attributable to Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of AHCA/NCAL:

"On behalf of our long term industry, we applaud the ACIP for prioritizing our residents and caregivers for the first distribution of the COVID vaccine."

"More than 100,000 long term care residents have died from this virus in the U.S. and our nursing homes are now experiencing the worst outbreak of new cases since last spring with more than 2,000 residents succumbing to this virus each week."

"Given the asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic spread of this virus combined with the explosion of community spread across the U.S., we are extremely hopeful this vaccine will literally be a lifesaver for thousands of residents and expedite the reopening of our facilities to family members and loved ones."

"Now it is up to the governors and state health agencies to implement these recommendations and ensure our long term care residents and staff are prioritized in the actual rollout of the vaccine to provide this protection as soon as possible."

"The long term care industry, including nursing homes and assisted living communities, now call on governors from all 50 states to ensure long term care residents and staff are the first group to receive the vaccine within this initial Phase '1a' distribution to save as many lives as possible."

For more information please visit www.ahcancal.org/coronavirus.