Missouri lawmakers to consider allowing dentists to administer coronavirus vaccine

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — As Missouri continues the first phase of its COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan, one legislator hopes to allow dentists to administer the vaccine to patients.

HB 628, sponsored by Rep. Danny Busick, would allow dentists to vaccinate patients for the virus. Busick said the bill would expedite the vaccination process and provide Missourians with a new option to get vaccinated.

“One thing I considered is the fact that you don’t go to a dentist with a communicable disease, while you might in a hospital or clinic,” he said. “It may really be a safer place to get vaccinated. The higher education institutions in my district have seen no problem with the idea. You can go by Hy-Vee or something like that for a flu shot, so why wouldn’t a medical office be able to do the same thing? It’s just as safe — if not more so.”

Under the bill, participating dentists would be required to undergo training before administering the vaccine to patients with which they have a preexisting doctor-patient relationship. Busick said the bill would prohibit dentists from soliciting new patients for vaccination.

Read more: https://themissouritimes.com/missouri-lawmakers-to-consider-allowing-dentists-to-administer-coronavirus-vaccine/