Statement of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Regarding Vaccination Against COVID-19
Published January 13, 2021
2021
For Immediate Release
(Bethesda, MD)- As a leading advocate for vaccines and world class medical education, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) today issued this statement:
“The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine strongly encourages the use of vaccines authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and save lives in our communities. Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine teach future physicians not only how to safely administer vaccines, but also about the proven, critical role of immunizations in protecting the public health over many decades. Disease prevention is a core principle of osteopathic medicine, and our community is committed to helping any way we can to ensure an effective, efficient mass vaccination effort against COVID-19.
AACOM is actively engaging students from across 11 health professions in this vaccination effort through the interprofessional Students Assist America initiative. We are proud of our osteopathic medical students who are volunteering to administer the COVID-19 vaccines at various sites around the country, including on many of our schools’ campuses. We also acknowledge the current and future roles our students play in caring for individuals, especially those that are underserved, and support the early vaccination of osteopathic medical students alongside other healthcare providers.
As we work as a nation to beat this virus, it is important to recognize that there is a significant amount of misinformation about vaccine safety, especially on social media. AACOM urges individuals seeking information about COVID-19 vaccination to consult credible sources, including the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Individual healthcare decisions, including those regarding vaccination, should be made in consultation with your physician.”
About AACOM
The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) leads and advocates for the full continuum of osteopathic medical education to improve the health of the public. Founded in 1898 to support and assist the nation's osteopathic medical schools, AACOM represents all 37 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine—educating nearly 31,000 future physicians, 25 percent of all US medical students—at 58 teaching locations in 33 US states, as well as osteopathic graduate medical education professionals and trainees at US medical centers, hospitals, clinics, and health systems.
AACOM provides leadership for the osteopathic medical education community by promoting excellence in medical education, research, and service, and by fostering innovation and quality across the continuum of osteopathic medical education to improve the health of the American public.
Contact:
Joseph Shapiro
Director of Media Relations
(240) 938-0746
jshapiro@aacom.org