AMA amends ethical guidance on physician immunizations

CHICAGO — Physicians who are not immunized from a vaccine-preventable disease have an ethical responsibility to take appropriate actions to protect patients and colleagues, according to amended ethical guidance adopted by physicians at today’s Special Meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates.

The AMA Code of Medical Ethics has long maintained that physicians have a strong ethical duty to accept immunizations when a safe, effective vaccine is available. This is especially true when a highly transmissible disease poses significant risks to patients and colleagues.