AMA calls for practices to play greater part in COVID-19 vaccinations

The president of the American Medical Association (AMA) is speaking up about the role physician offices should be playing in the push to vaccinate the public against COVID-19.

In an op-ed published on the AMA website, Susan R. Bailey, MD, writes that the time has come for physicians to take a more commanding position in vaccinating the nation. The op-ed reads in part:

“To do so, we need to expand vaccine access to frontline physician practices. Far too many physician practices around the country continue to be overlooked in both state and national vaccine strategies. Some independent practices have figured into the allocation plans put forth by certain states but not in others. Our AMA believes this omission is a missed opportunity on multiple levels.

“It is important to understand the crucial role physicians in private practice play in many communities, often as the face and trusted voice of our health system at large. Studies suggest that people who may distrust large hospital systems, or health institutions in general, tend to trust their personal doctors.”

The full op-ed can be read here.