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December 14, 2020

Open Letter to West Virginians from WV Healthcare Leaders: We Trust the COVID-19 Vaccine

West Virginia has experienced landmark days in the pandemic response this past week as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Emergency Use Authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine. As we write this, thousands of COVID-19 vaccine doses are being loaded and shipped to states across our nation, including ours. As healthcare and public health leaders in the Mountain State, we are breathing sighs of relief because we are confident that this vaccine is safe, effective, and is our best hope for ending the current pandemic.

You might be wondering whether you should trust a COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine development process has been the fastest we have seen to date because the entire medical, scientific, and public health communities building upon prior research technology mobilized like never before to end this pandemic. Clinical trials with tens of thousands of people showed that vaccination is highly effective in preventing COVID-19 and caused no serious adverse effects. We watched Thursday as the FDA’s advisory committee livestreamed their discussion of the evidence leading to their decision to authorize its use. We tuned in again on Friday and Saturday as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met to review the data and provide recommendations for use of the vaccine. These expert committees agree that this vaccine has met rigorous, scientific standards of safety and quality, and should be made available for use by the public.

We want to be clear: We will get vaccinated as soon as it is our turn, and we will recommend it as soon as possible to our family members and patients based on guidance from the ACIP. We trust the process, and we think you should, too.

We have wept with the families we care for and serve, watching them struggle with severe illness and even death. Some have only had the opportunity to say final goodbyes on the phone. These images and memories will stay with us for our lifetimes. But today we are hopeful, because the COVID-19 vaccine can help end this pandemic, protect the health and wellbeing of our communities, and get our economy moving again.

We will each personally receive the COVID-19 vaccine as soon it becomes available to us. We will do this because getting vaccinated not only protects us, but the people around us—particularly those at risk of severe COVID-19 illness. When large numbers of people in a community are vaccinated, fewer people get sick, saving lives, ensuring that the healthcare system can continue to meet the needs of those it is intended to serve, and getting us back to normal lives as soon as possible.

Each of us must continue to do our part to prevent the spread of the virus. Stopping a pandemic requires using all the public health tools we have available, and vaccination is likely our strongest tool yet. As medical and public health experts, we take our duty to protect our patients and our communities very seriously. We will continue to do our part to end the spread of COVID-19 by getting vaccinated ourselves and encouraging our patients, friends, and neighbors to do the same when the vaccine is available to them.

Sincerely (listed alphabetically),

Joanna Bailey, MD
President, West Virginia Academy of Family Physicians

Anne Banfield, MD, FACOG
Young Physician-At-Large American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Director Women’s Health Services, Davis Medical Center

Lisa M. Costello, MD, MPH, FAAP
President, West Virginia Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics

Scott Davis, PT, MS, EDD, OCS
President, West Virginia Physical Therapy Association

V.J. Davis, RS, MS
President, West Virginia Association of Local Health Departments

Laura Davisson, MD, MPH, FACP
Governor, American College of Physicians WV Chapter Associate Professor of Medicine, WVU School of Medicine

Matthew Delph, MD
President, West Virginia State Society of Anesthesiologists

Ben Deuell, DO, FACEP
President, West Virginia College of Emergency Physicians

Shawn Eddy
President, West Virginia Health Care Association

Sherri P. Ferrell
CEO, WV Primary Care Association

Elie Gharib, MD, FACC
President, WV Chapter of the American College of Cardiology

Suzanne Gharib, MD
President, WV Rheumatology State Society

P. Bradley Hall, MD
President, West Virginia State Medical Association

Melissa Jensen, MSPA, PA-C
President, West Virginia Association of Physician Assistants

Robert Johnstone, MD, FASA
Director, American Society of Anesthesiologists Anesthesiology Chairman, West Virginia University

Katie Kacmarik, PharmD
President, West Virginia Pharmacists Association President, Ohio-Marshall County Pharmacists Association

Jim Kaufman
President and CEO, West Virginia Hospital Association

Sharon L. Lansdale, RPh, MS
President/CEO, Center for Rural Health Development, Inc.

PS Martin, MD, FACEP, FAEMS
President, National Association of Emergency Medical Services Physicians West Virginia Chapter

Kara Piechowski, PharmD, BCPS, BC-ADM, CTTS
President, West Virginia Society of Health System Pharmacists

Matthew Rafa, PharmD
Vice President, West Virginia Pharmacists Association

Michael Robie, DO
President, West Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association

Angie Settle, DNP, APRN, BC, FNP
CEO/Executive Director, West Virginia Health Right, Inc.

Jason Turner, PharmD
Owner/Pharmacist Moundsville Pharmacy New Martinsville Pharmacy Pine Grove Pharmacy Sistersville Pharmacy

Matt Walker
Executive Director, West Virginia Independent Pharmacy Association

Joyce Wilson, APRN, MSN, BSN, RN FNP-C
President, West Virginia Nurses Association

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The information below is intended to give specific on the process of becoming a WVAFP Officer. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Gerry D. Stover, MS, EVP at gerry.stover@wvafp.org.

Prerequisite to becoming a WVAFP Officer

All of the following conditions must be met for consideration:
• Holds active membership in the WVAFP-AAFP
• Holds a valid medical license without restrictions
• Participates for one full year on the WVAFP Legislative Committee
• Serves as Doc4Day during a legislative session

Call for membership in Legislative Committee

Once a year, active members will receive an email, fax or newsletter asking about their interest to serve on the WVAFP Legislative Committee. Active members who respond will be screened by the WVAFP EVP. This will ensure there are no issues with the WV Board of Medicine and that they are valid active (retired members may serve on the Legislative Committee but can not become Officers of the WVAFP) members. The active member will be asked to provide a copy of their CV. Then the Chairs of WVAFP Legislative Committee will review the background information on the member and make a recommendation to the Board to appoint them to the WVAFP Legislative Committee.

If the Chairs of the Legislative Committee do not know the individual or are unable to verify their prior background the Chairs may ask the member to appear and discuss their interest in serving on the WVAFP Legislative Committee.

The Chairs of the WVAFP Legislative Committee may submit names to the Board anytime during the year to be added to the roster of the WVAFP Legislative Committee.

Selection of Officers for Secretary

Unless an officer has resigned his/her position the WVAFP bylaws require that only the Secretary position be filled as the other officers with the exception of the Treasurer move up one position per year. The President will review the roster of the active members that have served as Doc4Day and select a member to contact and determine their interest in becoming an WVAFP Officer. The President may delegate this activity to any member of the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee will be composed of the President, President-Elect, Vice-President, Secretary and the Executive Vice President (as a non voting member). Once a candidate for office has been selected a slate of officers will be prepared to submit to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting.

WVAFPOfficersandCommitteeChairAppointmentStandingRules

The AAFP has been working diligently to make sure you and your practice know all the ins and outs of the the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) that was signed into law in April 2015. It’s setting up groundbreaking changes to the way physicians are paid by Medicare, and we want YOU to be aware of how this legislation can impact your practice.

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Dr. Wanda Filer, AAFP President-Elect, presented the award. Dr. Galapon pledged, “As a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians shall pursue these goals: …to provide comprehensive and continuing health care to my patients, placing their welfare above all else; to exemplify and substantiate the highest traditions of my profession through an informed and scientific practice of family medicine; and to strive professional enrichment through a rigorous program of continuing education. I pledge my full participation and talents to the fulfillment of these objectives because they are the principles upon which the Academy was founded and because by so doing, I can better serve my profession, myself and humankind.”