William T. Reynolds, OD, American Optometric Association President, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar, encouraging HHS to designate optometrists and employees as front-line essential providers in terms of vaccine priority and to allow those who are interested and qualified to provide the immunizations.
“Providing doctors of optometry administration authority for the COVID-19 vaccine would mean bringing quick and easy access to the vaccine to 99% of the population, and 90% of our country’s most vulnerable patients. We continue to work with state officials to ensure doctors of optometry can provide vaccinations and appreciate the support of HHS to encourage a much needed reevaluation of each state’s allowed immunizers,” he wrote.
Read the letter here.
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