American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians and Affiliate Societies Advocate for Mask Requirement in Schools

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., August 17, 2021 (Newswire.com) - On Aug. 10, the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) released a statement of support requiring all students aged 2 years or older, teachers and staff to wear face masks while indoors in K-12 school settings, regardless of vaccination status.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics released updated school guidance recommending a universal masking policy, aimed at supporting communities, local leadership in education and public health, and physicians who are collaborating with schools. ACOFP's statement follows recommendations founded on medical knowledge of virus transmission, observation from the previous school year, the current rise of the delta variant and the inability of children under 12 to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

In addition, 13 affiliate societies have signed on to the statement, including:

• American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians of California
• American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians — Oklahoma State Society
• Arizona Society of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
• Colorado Chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
• Florida Society of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
• Indiana Chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
• Michigan Association of Osteopathic Family Physicians
• Mississippi Chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
• Missouri Society of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
• New York State Chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
• Ohio State Society of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
• Pennsylvania Osteopathic Family Physicians Society
• Texas Chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians

"The protection and safety of one another in our communities should not be a personal medical decision, or a political decision," said ACOFP President Nicole Bixler, DO, MBA, FACOFP. "This is a public health issue that has already reached catastrophic levels in our country, and we all need to be part of the solution, which is backed by science and guided by medical professionals."

Source: American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians