04 Feb FAQ: COVID-19 Vaccination
The AVMA has compiled a list of frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccination. Read more ...
Latest News
02 Feb AVMA’s New Guidelines Will Support Veterinarians in Use of Telehealth
Photo credit: AVMA.org A new best-of-breed resource gives veterinary practices a step-by-step guide to implement and expand telehealth services. Introducing: AVMA Guidelines for the Use of Telehealth in Veterinary Practice. This practical handbook is a hands-on reference for veterinary teams, providing a one-source reference with critical information to make telehealth, in its variety of forms, more successful for patients, clients, and practices: Definitions of the key components of the telehealth landscape Context around federal and state regulations and legal considerations, including the veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) Sample practice workflow Technological and workspace considerations How to engage the practice team...
26 Jan Veterinary Services Included in Phase 1B of COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued more detailed recommendations for COVID-19 vaccine distribution, indicating that “veterinary services” should be included in Phase 1B of the vaccine rollout. Read More ...
19 Jan Getting the COVID Vaccine
Pennsylvania has started to vaccinate against COVID-19 and is working to expand eligibility to more groups of people. Supplies are extremely limited, so we must prioritize who gets vaccinated first — starting with those most at risk of catching COVID and experiencing complications...
15 Jan Veterinarians and Veterinary Staff Included in Phase 1B of COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Plan
OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM PA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: The Pennsylvania Department of Health is working to ensure everyone who wants to get the COVID-19 vaccine can get it. While the vaccine supply remains limited, our goals are to prioritize vaccinating people to provide maximum community benefits and minimize harms caused by the virus and prioritize vaccinations accordingly. We want to ensure the vaccine is provided in a way that is ethical, equitable and efficient, which is why Pennsylvania is taking a phased approach to provide the vaccine as fast as it can be manufactured...
14 Jan A Statement on COVID-19 Vaccinations for Veterinarians, CVTs and Staff
Since the initial news of the Commonwealth’s plans for phased distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations was reported in December, PVMA has been continually trying to get information regarding the veterinary profession’s status in the plan. Early on, the Department of Health told us that veterinarians were in Phase 1B. As far as we know, that has not changed, but we are increasingly concerned that we are no longer getting updates or answers for our requests for clarification. These are the questions we are asking the Department of Health and the Governor’s Office. Are...
08 Jan COVID Vaccine & Veterinary Professionals
PVMA has confirmed that veterinarians* will be included in Phase 1B of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout, along with other healthcare providers and essential workers who are not in Phase 1A. The state Vaccine Task Force is currently planning the logistics for this new round of vaccinations. PVMA will keep veterinary professionals informed of any updates; however, details on Phase 1B are expected to be released the week of January 11, 2021. * We can only confirm that veterinarians are in Phase 1B, but we are working to clarify if the rest of...
07 Jan Vaccination of Veterinary Personnel Against COVID-19
When might veterinarians expect to be offered the opportunity to be vaccinated? Access to COVID‐19 vaccines is determined at the state, territorial, and local levels, so the answer varies by location...
05 Jan Pennsylvania Extends Waiver Temporarily Allowing Licensees to Meet Continuing Education Requirements Entirely Through Online Learning or Distance Education
The laws and regulations of 22 of the 29 licensing boards and commissions overseen by the Department of State's Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA) impose continuing education (CE) requirements of varying scope and magnitude on the various occupations/professions that BPOA regulates. Broadly stated, CE is delivered in one of two ways: (1) traditional, in-person instruction; and (2) online education or "distance learning." The laws and regulations of some of these boards impose restrictions or place limitations on the number or percentage of online/distance hours that may be applied towards...
22 Dec COVID Relief and Spending Bill Address Veterinary Priorities
Congress has passed a fourth COVID-19 relief bill and a comprehensive spending package to fund the government for the remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2021. These packages include many of AVMA’s top advocacy priorities, including fixing the unfavorable IRS tax treatment of expenses paid with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, streamlined PPP loan forgiveness for loans of up to $150,000, up to $20 million for animal health infrastructure’s role in the COVID-19 response, AVMA-led One Health report language, and funding for key federal programs important to veterinary medicine...