In an effort to accelerate the launch of the COVID-19 vaccine in California, dentists in the state were given the green light to administer the vaccine.
On Monday, the California Department of Consumer Protection approved an emergency public health exemption that will officially allow dentists to administer vaccines to patients 16 years of age or older.
“Dentists working under this Order may independently initiate and administer to persons 16 years of age or older, any COVID-19 vaccines that are approved or authorized by the FDA, as specified, and may also initiate and administer epinephrine or diphenhydramine by injection for the treatment of a severe allergic reaction “, says the order.
Before starting to administer vaccines to patients, however, dentists must complete a training program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to the request.
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There are about 36,000 dentists in the state of California, according to the California Dental Association, which noted in a press release applauding the decision that dentists “are in a position to inquire to administer vaccines because they receive extensive training in anatomy, pathology, pharmacology and autoimmune responses as part of your dental education. ”
The news comes at a time when distribution problems and logistical challenges slow the initial launch of the coronavirus vaccine in California, setting a pace that “is not good enough,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.
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The state is trying to run the mass immunization campaign “with the sense of urgency that is required at this time and the urgency that people demand”, but so far only about 1% of California’s 40 million residents have been vaccinated, he said. the Democratic governor.
The 454,000 doses of the vaccine that have been administered in California represent just a third of the more than 1.3 million doses received in the state so far, according to the California Department of Public Health.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.