The January 27 webinar will look at dentists’ role as primary care providers, as well as legislation and recommended training.Â
The American Dental Association (ADA) will host a webinar on vaccinations and the role dentists can play. According to the association, it will address why it believes dentists should be considered primary care providers and how their background makes them well-trained for providing vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine.
The webinar—Vaccinations by Dentists: A New Role in Primary Care—will stream on January 27, 2021 at 12:00 pm CT. Continuing education credit is currently pending.Â
The webinar, presented by Phillip T. Marucha, DMD, PhD, professor of periodontology at the Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry, will cover vaccine legislation, recommended training for dentists, and an overview of vaccines likely to be initiated first in the dental setting. The session will focus on the implementation of 2019 Oregon legislation allowing Oregon-licensed dentists to administer vaccines after completing Board-approved required training and following relevant rules to administer vaccinations safely.Â
The webinar will also provide information on potential barriers to dentists administering vaccinations within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marucha received his dental degree, certificate in periodontology, and doctoral degree in immunology from the University of Connecticut. He is an active researcher and mentor, with a clinical and educational focus on the integration of oral health into the health care system.