Alberta’s dentists are skilled with giving injections and can help get more Albertans vaccinated, says their association.
The Alberta Dental Association and College stated that dentists safely administer injections several times a day as a regular part of their practice and can competently support the government’s immunization effort.
On Feb. 24, British Columbia Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, announced that members of several regulated and unregulated health professions including dentists, midwives, retired nurses, and dental hygienists will be authorized to administer COVID-19 vaccinations.
The association would like Alberta to also consider using dentists to help in the vaccine effort.
“Dentists of Alberta operate in clinics across the entire province and are well prepared and willing to provide the vaccine when it becomes more widely available.” Dr. Bruce Yaholnitsky, President, Alberta Dental Association and College.
He added that Alberta dentists have the skills and the knowledge required to be a part of the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccines. When more vaccine becomes readily available for distribution, and we need to get as many needles in as many arms as quickly as possible, dentist want to be a part of the solution.
The association asserts that dentists are experts in infection control and provision of injections, and safely administer injections several times a day as a regular part of their practice. “Dentists can competently support the government’s immunization effort, as seen in other provinces across the country.”