SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - The California Department of Consumers Affairs gave the green light to a public health emergency waiver that will allow dentists to help administer COVID-19 vaccines.
The California Dental Association applauded the Monday announcement.
“Dentists are the experts in giving injections,” said Dr. Richard Nagy, who recently served as CDA President and is currently on the CDA board. “We give them in places that are rather challenging, inside the mouth where there is a tongue, where there are bone and ligament.”
“As part of the waiver, the dentist will need to take a three-hour class, which is through the CDC,” Nagy added.
According to the CDA, dentists are likely to administer the vaccines at hospital settings, clinics, and vaccination sites expected to be set up to meet the vaccine demand.
The waiver comes as Governor Gavin Newsom says the state is looking to speed up the rate of vaccine distribution.
On Monday, he said the state had received nearly 1.3 million doses. More than 454,000 of them have been administered.