California Reduces Training Requirements for Dentists to Administer COVID-19 Vaccines

To increase the number of vaccine providers throughout the state, California’s Department of Public Health has decreased the training requirements necessary for dentists to administer COVID-19 vaccines. Now, dentists must complete one online course hosted by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention composed of three modules, which should take about 1 hour to complete. The course includes an overview of best practices for vaccine administration and specific information relative to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which currently are the only COVID-19 vaccines with Emergency Use Authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration. Dentists who complete the course and receive certification are eligible to administer the COVID-19 immunizations at large vaccine clinics. Due to vaccine shortages and billing and administrative concerns, dentists are not administering vaccines in the private practice setting. Click here to read more.