Coronavirus: ACP backs vaccine recommendations

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has voiced support for the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for the COVID-19 coronavirus in patients 16 and older.

According to a news release, ACP also supports adding an amendment to the 2021 Adult Immunization Schedule including use of the COVID-19 vaccines.

The organization encourages all physicians, healthcare professionals, and patients to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as the supply becomes available. The initial allocation of vaccine supply for healthcare workers will help ensure the healthcare system can deliver care and protect patients while enabling physicians to fulfill their ethical responsibility to limit risk of infection to patients, the release says.

ACP calls for ongoing evaluation of vaccine effectiveness and safety monitoring using programs like the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and V-SAFE, according to the release.

“The approval of the first vaccine is a significant step in managing the COVID-19 pandemic,” Jacqueline W. Fincher, MD, MACP, president of ACP, says in the release. “However, we must also continue using other preventive measures to help reduce transmission and protect patients, ourselves and our loved ones.”

Late Friday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for the BNT162b2 vaccine candidate from Pfizer and BioNTech.

According to documents released by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the committee meeting, Dec. 10, the vaccine has hit the efficacy and safety benchmarks to receive the EUA.

Previously, the companies announced the candidate showed 95 percent efficacy in patients not previously infected with COVID-19 and also those who have previously been infected beginning 28 days after the first dose which meets all of the study’s primary efficacy standpoints.