Originally published on www.thevaccinereaction.org

Governor Kate Brown of Oregon signed a bill on May 6, 2019 that will allow dentists in that state to administer vaccinations. House Bill 2220, which passed Oregon's House of Representatives on Mar. 28, 2019 and Senate on Apr. 25, will make it possible for dentists to give vaccines, including MMR, HPV and annual flu shots, to their patients during dental checkups.^1 2 3

"Dentists are highly trained medical practitioners who are well-positioned to provide this additional preventive care service. Increasing our scope of practice to the administration of vaccines will help further integrate oral health with physical and behavioral health, ultimately better serving our patients," ODA president James McMahan, DMD said.³

HB 2220 requires dentists to take a continuing education training course on vaccination and comply with state vaccine storage and reporting regulations in order to be certified to become a vaccinator. Protocols and training rules will be developed by the Oregon Board of Dentistry, Oregon Health & Sciences University (OHSU) and the Oregon Dental Association (ODA).^1 2 3

One of the issues that will have to be addressed by the implementation protocols will be determining for dentists which vaccines their patients have already received. "They won't have all the vaccine history of a patient. They'll have to communicate with the primary health care provider or have access to those records. So that's one of those wrinkles we'll have to be addressing in rules," Board of Dentistry director Stephen Prisby said.⁴

Prisby says he believes the board will have protocols and training rules in place by Jan. 1. 2020.⁴

With the signing of HB 2220, Oregon becomes the first state in the U.S. to permit dentists to vaccinate patients of any age, including young children, with many types of vaccines. According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, dentists in Minnesota and Illinois can only give influenza vaccine to adults. The University of Minnesota's School of Dentistry offers a 10-hour, self-paced, online course to administer flu shots and also offers a more basic three-hour online course.^5 6

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References:

¹ Metro Source Media Networks, Inc. Governor Brown Signs Bill Allowing Dentists To Vaccinate Patients. KBMD May 7, 2019.

² Brumfield A. Oregon lawmakers allow dentists to give vaccinations. KTVZ May 3, 2019.

³ Solana K. Oregon passes bill allowing dentists to administer vaccines. American Dental Association Apr. 26, 2019.

⁴ Foden-Vencil K. Oregon Becomes 1st State To Allow Dentists To Offer Any Vaccine. Oregon Public Broadcasting May 8, 2019.

⁵ Raines K. Expanding Vaccination Rates by Allowing More People to Give Them. The Vaccine Reaction July 6, 2017.

⁶ Immunization Delivery for Dentists: An Online Course. University of Minnesota School of Dentistry.