AMGA Statement on COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements for Healthcare Personnel
Alexandria, VA – AMGA supports our member organizations that are requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for their employees as they strive to protect their patients, healthcare personnel, and communities from the devastating effects of the disease. AMGA members, which provide care for one in three Americans, are seeing firsthand that unvaccinated individuals are at the highest risk for acquiring COVID-19 and represent the vast majority of new hospitalizations related to the disease. Vaccinating their employees now as we move toward full FDA approval of the currently available vaccines can dramatically reduce the risk of transmission to their patients and communities.
"Considering the evidence on the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines, as well as the urgency to quell the resurgence of COVID 19 cases, AMGA supports medical groups and health systems that require COVID-19 vaccines for healthcare personnel,” said AMGA President and CEO Jerry Penso, M.D., M.B.A.
“Healthcare organizations should consider conditions in their local area as well as medical exemptions and accommodations consistent with federal guidelines as they craft their vaccination policy. AMGA members have long been committed to educate and encourage all members of their community to get vaccinated. We believe the current movement toward vaccine requirements will benefit the well-being of healthcare personnel and patients and is a necessary step toward saving lives and ending the pandemic.”
In crafting this statement, AMGA considered the proven high efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines available in the U.S. to prevent symptomatic COVID-19 and even higher efficacy to prevent hospitalizations and deaths associated with the disease. AMGA also acknowledges that the decision to mandate vaccinations must be made on an organization-by-organization basis, considering local conditions and subject to legally required exceptions and state law.
###
About AMGA
AMGA is a trade association leading the transformation of health care in America. Representing multispecialty medical groups and integrated systems of care, we advocate, educate, innovate, and empower our members to deliver the next level of high performance health. AMGA is the national voice promoting awareness of our members’ recognized excellence in the delivery of coordinated, high-quality, high-value care. More than 175,000 physicians practice in our member organizations, delivering care to one in three Americans.