BACKGROUND: With many states in the United States permitting dentists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine, there is much discussion about their scope of practice in relation to delivering other vaccines. METHODS: Survey questions were developed to assess dentists' awareness about their vaccine administration scope of practice and attitudes and barriers if choosing to incorporate vaccine delivery into their practice scope. The survey was deployed electronically to members of the American Dental Association Clinical Evaluators (ACE) Panel (N = 989) on September 2, 2021, and remained open for 2 weeks. Data were summarized descriptively in Qualtrics and SAS Version 9.4. RESULTS: Of the 330 ACE Panel members who responded to the survey, 42% were not aware of which vaccines their state permits them to deliver. More than one-half (55%) would be willing to administer influenza or COVID-19 vaccines in their practice setting, but at present only 2% of respondents administer vaccines. To overcome vaccine administration barriers, the top 3 resources respondents want access to are the following: training or education, financial support, and access to protocols. Of all the respondents, 91% indicated the dental hygienist should be involved in certain capacities. CONCLUSIONS: Few dentists are administering vaccines, possibly owing to a number of challenges. Dental hygienists may play an integral role in the administration of vaccines in the dental clinic, but few dentists are educating their patients about vaccines. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Although dentists wishing to administer vaccines in their practice may encounter barriers, support at the state, federal, and organizational levels could help them overcome these challenges.
BACKGROUND: With many states in the United States permitting dentists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine, there is much discussion about their scope of practice in relation to delivering other vaccines. METHODS: Survey questions were developed to assess dentists' awareness about their vaccine administration scope of practice and attitudes and barriers if choosing to incorporate vaccine delivery into their practice scope. The survey was deployed electronically to members of the American Dental Association Clinical Evaluators (ACE) Panel (N = 989) on September 2, 2021, and remained open for 2 weeks. Data were summarized descriptively in Qualtrics and SAS Version 9.4. RESULTS: Of the 330 ACE Panel members who responded to the survey, 42% were not aware of which vaccines their state permits them to deliver. More than one-half (55%) would be willing to administer influenza or COVID-19 vaccines in their practice setting, but at present only 2% of respondents administer vaccines. To overcome vaccine administration barriers, the top 3 resources respondents want access to are the following: training or education, financial support, and access to protocols. Of all the respondents, 91% indicated the dental hygienist should be involved in certain capacities. CONCLUSIONS: Few dentists are administering vaccines, possibly owing to a number of challenges. Dental hygienists may play an integral role in the administration of vaccines in the dental clinic, but few dentists are educating their patients about vaccines. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Although dentists wishing to administer vaccines in their practice may encounter barriers, support at the state, federal, and organizational levels could help them overcome these challenges.
Data reflect the responses of 330 American Dental Association Clinical Evaluators (ACE) Panel member dentists in the United States.
Demographics (n = 330)
Respondent-identified sex: 1 person preferred not to answer; region: missing for 15 respondents; race or ethnicity: missing for 5 respondents.Percentages do not sum to 100% owing to rounding.
Clinical Insights
A person’s level of immunity can help fight against disease-causing organisms that are dangerous and life threatening. Vaccines work with the body’s immune system to reduce the risk of developing infection as well as develop the body’s natural defense system to become immune to certain diseases. There are several types of vaccines (for example, mRNA, inactivated, live-attenuated). Most vaccines introduce a small amount of antigen into the body to activate a person’s immune system to produce antibodies and T lymphocytes without causing disease.
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In addition to the antigen, other ingredients in vaccines may include, but are not limited to, adjuvants, stabilizers, and preservatives. Each ingredient plays a vital role in helping the body strengthen its immunity and keep the vaccine safe and effective.Safe and proper delivery of vaccinations to patients is imperative. Health care providers who administer vaccines undergo comprehensive competency training that covers topics such as patient assessment and patient education, as well as proper handling, storage, delivery, and documentation of vaccines. With most US states allowing dental providers to participate in administration of the COVID-19 vaccine, discussion is building around expanding the scope of dental practice to include the administration of other vaccines.Dental care professionals play a critical role in the delivery of oral health care and disease prevention. They might add to their continuous preventative work and increase access to care by expanding their scope of practice to include vaccine administration and counseling. Although wider integration of vaccine administration into clinical practice may not be problem free, there may be state, federal, and organizational support available to help address challenges such as cost and reimbursement, provider training and education, and public education and trust.
Age,Y, Mean (Standard Deviation)
56.0 (13.5)
Female/Male, %∗,†
26.1/73.6
Region, %∗,†
Northeast
19.1
Midwest
27.3
West
26.7
South
27.0
Race or Ethnicity, %∗,†
White
77.6
Asian
9.23
Hispanic or Latino
3.1
Black
2.2
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
0.6
American Indian or Alaskan Native
0.9
Other or multiracial
6.5
Practice Type, %
General practice
87.6
Specialty
12.4
Occupation, %
Full-time practice (≥ 30 h/wk)
72.4
Part-time practice (< 30 h/wk)
7.3
Dental school faculty
8.8
Part-time faculty and practice
2.4
Other
9.1
Respondent-identified sex: 1 person preferred not to answer; region: missing for 15 respondents; race or ethnicity: missing for 5 respondents.