The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted access to dental care and routine immunizations for many children and a new report from Toronto’s top doctor says that the city needs to work with the province to create a plan to address the backlog. The report, which will be considered by Toronto’s Board of Health today, takes a wider … Read more
The B.C. government has scrapped plans to expand the province’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate to all health-care workers in private practice – but will be adopting an “informed consent” system for patients who want to avoid unvaccinated service providers. The move has two of the province’s most high-profile unions exploring whether that means hundreds of laid-off … Read more
The Provincial Health Officer has posted a new provincial health order mandating that health care professionals report their vaccination status — and that status must be fully vaccinated unless they have a special exemption. Dr. Bonnie Henry made the announcement in early 2022 that all health care professionals would need to be vaccinated to work, but it … Read more
On September 20, 2021, the RCDSO (Ontario’s dental regulator) encouraged all dentists to “support vaccination efforts, model responsible behaviour … and address vaccine hesitancy.” Other provincial dental regulators have recommended that all dentists and dental health care professionals get vaccinated against COVID-19 and, in PEI, the dental regulator went so far as to mandate vaccination. … Read more
The New Brunswick Dental Society will not be following the lead of doctors in the province and require dentists to have COVID-19 vaccinations. While endorsing vaccinations, the group is not making them a condition of a licence, said executive director Paul Blanchard. He said the society believes that patients are adequately protected by safety protocols … Read more
Dentists’ leaders have said mandatory jabs for healthcare staff will have a “calamitous” impact on dental services in England, as a survey revealed that one in 10 dentists have not been double-vaccinated. MPs voted this week to approve regulations requiring NHS and social care staff to be vaccinated by April next year. All frontline health and care … Read more
Mandatory COVID vaccination policies implicate a complex intersection of laws including employment, human rights, occupational health and safety, privacy, personal health information, administrative and constitutional law. And this area of law is in near-constant flux as this article goes to print. 1. Must you have a COVID vaccination policy? The short answer is: probably. The … Read more
Many health-care workers in Nunavut will be required to provide proof they’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 10, 2022. John Main, Nunavut’s health minister, announced the move in a Nov. 30 media release. The new rule affects nurses, dental therapists, central sterilizing room technicians, and midwives, as well as staff at community and public health … Read more
The B.C. Ministry of Health says it is working on a plan that will require doctors and dentists who operate out of private practices to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Health care workers who don’t work at public facilities such as hospitals aren’t currently required to be vaccinated. But a spokesperson for the ministry told … Read more
A Palmerston North dentist has been bombarded with threats – including to burn the practice down – after advising it wants all patients to be vaccinated, and will charge those that aren’t a fee for use of PPE. Vivian St Dental put up the notice a week ago, and the practice spokeswoman, who only wanted … Read more
An orthodontist in Timmins and past president of the Ontario Dental Association says dental care is considered health care, which means dentists will treat anyone in the province regardless of vaccination status. “We also recognize, you know, groups of people can’t get vaccinated,” said Dr. Lou Ann Visconti. “Lots of my patients are under 12 … Read more
The Canadian Dental Association (CDA), the national voice for dentists across Canada, is calling on the immediate action of the provincial and territorial governments to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for health care workers, including oral health care professionals. Oral health care professionals include dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental therapists, and all other dental office workers … Read more
The federal government’s 2021 expansion of individuals qualified to deliver COVID-19 vaccines led Texas A&M University College of Dentistry to equip dental students to join the fight against the pandemic. “The idea started in January when dentists were still not authorized to give vaccines,” said Dr. Penelope Drayer, clinical assistant professor in comprehensive dentistry. “But the federal … Read more
In the face of surging infections by the delta variant, the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) is now calling on its member institutions and programs to require COVID-19 vaccinations for their faculty, staff, students and residents. The well-being of oral health professionals who provide oral health care and educate future dental professionals is a top … Read more
Some people are switching dentists over concerns about vaccination status. “If I were to ask my dentist or any medical provider whether they were vaccinated and they said ‘no’ I would immediately find a new provider,” said Christen Alexander. Alexander didn’t ask this of her dentist because at her visit she assumed they were vaccinated. … Read more
Vaccine incentives are less likely to convince Americans to get the COVID-19 vaccine than a visit to their primary care physician, new research suggests. A recent survey of 2,005 respondents reveals that 88% who went to a primary care physician before getting the vaccine (1,202 respondents) said their doctor’s advice was an instrumental factor in … Read more
Earlier this month, the Province announced that high-risk health care workers are eligible to receive a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a shortened interval. The list of high-risk health care workers can be found here. This list includes the highest health care workers in the very high risk category outlined in COVID-19: Guidance for Prioritizing … Read more
The Irish Dental Association (IDA) has said that moving public sector dentists to the vaccination programme will cause “irreparable damage” to children and vulnerable adults. Speaking at the IDA’s AGM this morning, outgoing IDA President Dr Anne O’Neill said that while dentists are willing to be used as vaccinators, their absence from the public sector … Read more
As Ottawa residents flood online registration sites and pharmacy phone lines to gain access to COVID-19 vaccinations, some local dentists are wondering why their offers to join the effort have been ignored. Dr. Neena Sidhu said it’s hard to watch hospitals be flooded with COVID-19 patients, knowing she and her colleagues have been offering to help for months … Read more
With oral health care workers now being prioritized for COVID-19 vaccines, mandatory vaccination is on everyone’s mind. The decision to mandate COVID-19 vaccination requires careful consideration and balancing of rights and responsibilities. You must keep these things in mind: Employer responsibilities Under provincial health and safety legislation, all employers have a legal duty to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances … Read more