Joint Statement on COVID-19 Vaccination of Health Care Personnel

July 29, 2021

Receiving COVID-19 Vaccine

Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation Strongly Encourages all Health Care Personnel to Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19

Vaccines are safe, highly effective and save lives

Amid the new surge of COVID-19 cases across the U.S., the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), and 10 professional societies associated with the specialty, are strongly encouraging the nation’s health care workers and all eligible Americans to get fully vaccinated with one of the COVID-19 vaccines. ASA and the associated societies remind the public that widespread vaccination is the most effective way to reduce illness and death.

The statement released by ASA, the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation, the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia, the Society for Education in Anesthesia, the Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care, the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology, the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia, the Society of Academic Associations of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, and the Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists highlights the importance of vaccination for all health care personnel.

“As physician anesthesiologists and anesthesiology professionals, we provide care for patients in the operating room, delivery room, critical care unit and ambulatory settings. We also served on the front lines throughout the pandemic and have seen firsthand the devastating impact of this virus,” said ASA President Beverly K. Philip, M.D., FACA, FASA. “The health and safety of our members, our colleagues, and our patients are our highest priority and we urge closing the vaccination gap.”

Millions of Americans remain unvaccinated including health care personnel, and are at increased risk for illness in the current surge with the “Delta” variant. COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective at significantly reducing the risks of becoming infected, spreading the infection to others, and becoming severely ill or dying from the disease.

“Vaccination is critical for everyone, but is especially essential for health care personnel because it reduces the likelihood of unintentionally spreading COVID-19 to our patients, especially those who may have weakened immune systems,” said Dr. Philip. “We stand with all of our medical colleagues and offer our support and strong encouragement for COVID-19 vaccination.”

Full Joint Statement on COVID-19 Vaccination of Health Care Personnel

The leadership of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and professional societies associated with the specialty offer our support and strong encouragement for COVID-19 vaccination of the nation’s health care workers and all eligible Americans.

The health and safety of our members, our colleagues in health care, and the patients we serve is our highest priority. We believe widespread vaccination is the most effective path to reduce illness and death, and to ameliorate the impact of the pandemic.

COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective at significantly reducing the risk of becoming infected, spreading the infection to others, and becoming severely ill or dying from the disease. For health care personnel, COVID-19 vaccination is particularly essential because it significantly reduces the likelihood of unintentionally spreading COVID-19 to our patients, including those who may have weakened immune systems.

We believe anesthesiologists and anesthesiology professionals who work closely with patients in operating rooms and procedural areas, in hospitals and ambulatory settings, and in critical care units should be especially vested in closing the vaccination gap. We stand with all of our medical colleagues to strongly promote these efforts.

This statement is agreed upon and supported by the undersigned societies.

 

Beverly K. Philip, MD, FACA, FASA
President
American Society of Anesthesiologists

Samer Narouze, MD, PhD
President
American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine

Mark Warner, MD
President
Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation

Ronald G. Pearl, MD, PhD
President
Society of Academic Associations of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine (SAAAPM)

BobbieJean Sweitzer, MD, FACP, SAMBA-F, FASA
President
Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia

Stephanie B. Jones, MD
President
Society for Education in Anesthesia (SEA)

Chanannait Paisansathan, MD, MHA
President
Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care

Edward (Ted) Yaghmour, MD, FASA
President
Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology

Nina Deutsch, MD
President
Society for Pediatric Anesthesia

Andrew D. Shaw, MB, FCCM, FFICM, FRCA
President
Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists

Miguel A. Cobas, MD, FCCM
President
Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists

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