The California Dental Association (CDA) has provided updated information for dentists on COVID-19 vaccination in the state.
Among the updates, the CDA is urging dentists to complete free vaccination training from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to become eligible to administer vaccines. The CDC created the three-hour, self-paced training under a public health emergency waiver granted in early January, the CDA noted.
There are four courses in total, covering vaccine administration, contraindications, and adverse reactions:
- WB4460: Vaccine Training: General Overview of Immunization Best Practices for Healthcare Providers
- WB4461: Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine: What Healthcare Professionals Need to Know
- What Clinicians Need to Know About the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines
- What Every Clinician Should Know About COVID-19 Vaccine Safety
The CDA advised dentists in the state to begin with the first two training sessions, which provide essential information. The CDA also reported that registration is required to receive a certificate of completion and that dentists may experience technical difficulties.
Dentists who complete the course and would like to administer vaccinations will likely do so through large efforts organized by the government, local health systems, and hospitals, as opposed to at their local office.
In a memo submitted to the California Department of Public Health, the CDA advocated for the state to leverage the talents of dental professionals to help plan mass vaccination clinics. The CDA pointed out it that organizes its large CDA Cares dental clinics typically held each year.
