On May 27, family physicians from Ohio were featured in a virtual White House conversation on the next phase of the COVID vaccination rollout. Joining the White House COVID-19 Response Team were Ohio Governor Mike DeWine; Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) member and chief medical officer for the Ohio Department of Health Bruce Vanderhoff, MD; and panelists James Barnes, MD; Kevin Sharrett, MD; and Sarah Sams, MD (all of whom are family physicians and OAFP members). Representing the White House were U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, MD; National Vaccinations Coordinator Bechara Choucair, MD; and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Medical Epidemiologist Tara Jatlaoui, MD.
During the call, the White House COVID-19 Response Team thanked Gov. DeWine for his leadership during the pandemic and expressed gratitude to Ohio’s primary care physicians and their practice teams for their service to their patients, state, and country throughout the COVID-19 response and vaccine rollout.
Speakers stressed the critical role primary care physicians and their practice teams will continue to play in the next phase of the vaccination effort—including vaccine education to their patients and through offering vaccinations in their offices. Officials summarized the tools the federal government and the State of Ohio are providing to support them.
The three family physician panelists shared innovative approaches they are taking to patient outreach and implementing their own vaccination programs. They also shared tips they use with patients to answer questions and reassure patients who are hesitant to get the vaccine.