FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 2, 2021
Statement attributable to:
Sterling Ransone, Jr., MD
President
American Academy of Family Physicians
“The American Academy of Family Physicians supports actions announced today by the White House to combat COVID-19. The Delta and Omicron variants pose a significant threat to the nation’s health, and now is the time to take additional steps to prevent infection and prepare for surges during the winter months when viruses spread more rapidly.
“Vaccines are our best line of defense against COVID-19; however, many patients and families remain hesitant to get vaccinated. People may have outstanding questions about the COVID-19 vaccines which can require several conversations with their trusted physician to make the best decision for them and their families. The AAFP is pleased that the administration will require Medicaid to pay clinicians for standalone COVID-19 vaccine counseling for children. We urge the administration to expand this requirement to adult vaccine counseling and direct Medicare and commercial insurers to pay for standalone counseling to ensure physicians can have these important conversations with patients of all ages.
Family physicians are a trusted source for vaccine education and have played an important role in the progress made to date. As winter approaches, we urge all eligible people, starting at age 5, to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible. In addition, we support the recommendation that all adults get a recommended booster dose for extra protection against the virus.
The AAFP is encouraged that the administration is taking additional steps to improve the affordability and accessibility of at-home rapid COVID-19 tests. Rapid testing used in conjunction with PCR testing, masking, contact tracing, and other public health measures, is an extremely useful strategy for tracking and containing the spread of COVID-19. Additional action is needed to ensure every American can easily access this tool when they have symptoms or are concerned about possible exposure. It is also imperative that physician offices continue to have access to both rapid and PCR testing to diagnose and treat their patients.
“In addition to getting vaccinated, we all must remain vigilant about wearing masks in public, washing hands and practicing physical distancing. The AAFP calls on government leaders and employers at the federal, state, and local level to encourage all individuals age 2 and older to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status. The science is clear that proper masking significantly reduces the risk of COVID-19 transmission. These simple measures will help us win the battle against COVID-19 this season.”
Editor's Note: To arrange an interview with Dr. Ransone, contact Janelle Davis, (913) 912-0377, or jdavis@aafp.org.
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About the American Academy of Family Physicians
The AAFP is the largest national association of family physicians, representing 128,300 physicians and medical students. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on impactful care for people of all ages, races and genders across all medical conditions. The AAFP supports every stage of a family physician's career and provides evidence-based resources, advocacy and community to empower family medicine. To learn more, visit aafp.org. For information about health care, medical conditions and wellness, please visit the AAFP’s patient education website, familydoctor.org.