The WSMA has joined the Washington State Department of Health to help
promote confidence in, and uptake of, life-saving COVID-19 vaccines.
Our members are the key to our success in this endeavor. By leveraging
the trust patients have in their physicians, you can help ensure
Washingtonians are receiving guidance based on sound science and good
medical practice—and help counter the increasing barrage of
misinformation circulating on- and offline.
The following resources can help you and your practice or organization
in this effort.
Please reach out to your patients about the COVID-19 vaccine
Many patients have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and its impact
on their health. WSMA Immediate Past-President Nathan Schlicher, MD,
JD, sent a message to all physicians and physicians assistants in
Washington urging them to reach out to their patients directly to talk
to them about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Download Dr. Schlicher's message, which includes a sample message you can send to your patients.
Remember: Many patients have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Please make yourself available to talk to your patients about the
vaccine, regardless of your specialty.
Join the Power of Providers initiative
Washington’s Power of Providers COVID-19 vaccine initiative encourages
physicians from all specialties and health care providers throughout
the state to proactively reach out and talk to their patients about
COVID-19 vaccination. You can commit to the POP initiative by agreeing
to SEEK, ASK, VACCINATE, and EMPOWER (SAVE) your patients around
COVID-19 vaccine.
- SEEK: Seek your patients’ COVID-19 vaccination status.
-
ASK/EDUCATE: If your patient isn't vaccinated, ask them about the
vaccine and offer education if they’re unsure.
-
VACCINATE: If your patient agrees to vaccination, provide them with
a COVID-19 vaccine or a referral to a location that provides
COVID-19 vaccination.
-
EMPOWER: Empower your patients to share their vaccination status
with the community.
If you agree to do these four things at your practice, please
fill out the online commitment form. The Department of Health will send you your certificate as well as
optional buttons or stickers.
Learn more about the POP initiative.
COVID-19 conversation guides for physicians and health care providers
The DOH offers a
new provider toolkit
featuring educational materials and information, including
conversation guides, designed to instill confidence in COVID-19
vaccines. Find the conversation guides under Educational Materials
then Resources for Providers.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology offers a
COVID-19 Vaccines and Pregnancy: Conversation Guide for
Clinicians.
Key COVID-19 vaccine messages
The WSMA and the Washington State Department of Health are reinforcing
these key COVID-19 vaccine messages:
- Don’t hesitate, vaccinate.
-
All three COVID-19 vaccines are safe and very effective in
protecting you and protecting others.
- Talk to your doctor today about getting the shot.
“Don’t Hesitate, Vaccinate!” public service announcement
The WSMA and the DOH have produced a 45-second PSA featuring WSMA
President Nathan Schlicher, MD, JD, MBA, called “Don't hesitate, just vaccinate!.” Share freely with your networks.
Messages from the WSMA president
Your WSMA president has authored or co-authored editorials urging
public confidence in all three life-saving COVID-19 vaccines.
Countering hesitancy in patients and health care workers
WSMA members Bob Lutz, MD, from the Department of Health’s COVID-19
Response Team, and John H Vassall MD, physician executive for quality,
safety & equity at Comagine Health, shared best practices for
addressing Washingtonians' hesitancy and how to approach communities
with significant health disparities in a recent webinar. View the
archived webinar on the Department of Health website.