CHICAGO – As COVID-19 vaccine development continues to progress, leading U.S. medical, nursing and health organizations today affirmed their commitment to ensuring COVID-19 vaccines are evaluated and ultimately authorized through a rigorous scientific and regulatory process. The groups called on the American people to continue public health precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 until the U.S. population has been broadly immunized against the illness.

The open letter from the American Medical Association, American Hospital Association, and American Nurses Association is available here.

The full text is below:

An open letter to the American people:

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have come together as physicians, nurses, and hospital and health system leaders to urge the American people to protect themselves, their neighbors and their loved ones amidst the worst global health crisis in generations. As we approach the point when a vaccine may be available, more than 260,000 Americans and more than 1.4 million people worldwide have lost their lives to COVID-19, we know that vaccines will save lives and help us turn the page on this virus. Vaccines have eradicated smallpox, nearly eliminated chickenpox and polio, and minimized the impact of countless other diseases. To achieve a similar result from COVID-19 vaccines requires trust in the process to develop, distribute and administer a safe and effective vaccine and broad willingness to get vaccinated.

As partners in your health, we are committed to:

• Following the science. We are committed to supporting the rigorous scientific and regulatory process by which COVID-19 vaccines are evaluated and may ultimately be authorized and recommended for use in the population.
• Your health and safety. We commit to establishing safe and effective processes for administering vaccine to all who are eligible and choose to get vaccinated.
• Being transparent. We will make critical information about vaccines available as it is released, working together to share plans for vaccinating communities across this country. We will share the benefits and risks of a vaccine so that you can make an informed decision for yourself and your loved ones.

We are committed as organizations to supporting a rigorous scientific and regulatory process by which COVID-19 vaccines are evaluated and may ultimately be approved. Until our population has been broadly immunized, we continue urging that you protect yourself and others from the virus by taking three critical, scientifically-proven steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19: wear a face mask, maintain physical distancing, and wash your hands. These actions remain essential.

Know that your health and safety continues to remain our top priority and we will get through this together.

Your continued partners in health,

American Hospital Association

American Medical Association

American Nurses Association