TUESDAY, June 15, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Ninety-six percent of physicians are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the results of a survey conducted by the American Medical Association (AMA).
The survey was developed by the AMA and was fielded to 301 physicians, including 150 primary care physicians (PCPs) and 151 specialists, from June 3 to 8, 2021, to determine current COVID-19 vaccination rates.
According to the survey, 96 percent of physicians have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19; 64, 34, and 2 percent had received Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines, respectively. Of the 11 physicians who were not vaccinated, five planned to get vaccinated. Concerns about the vaccine being too new and having unknown long-term effects were the most common reasons for not receiving the vaccine. No significant differences were observed in physician vaccination rates across demographic groups, including PCP versus specialist, region, gender, age, and race; there was a significant difference in vaccination rate among Hispanics and non-Hispanics (84 versus 97 percent, respectively).
“Practicing physicians across the country are leading by example, with an amazing uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines,” Susan R. Bailey, M.D., president of the AMA, said in a statement. “Physicians and clinicians are uniquely positioned to listen to and validate patient concerns, and one of the most powerful anecdotes a physician can offer is that they themselves have been vaccinated. You can take it from your doctor: the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.”
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