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Dentists, Optometrists, Podiatrists Can Now Administer COVID-19 Vaccines in the U.S.

glasses and eye sight test chart

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced that the agency is amending an emergency declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) to authorize additional medical professionals to administer experimental COVID-19 vaccines being distributed under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).1 2

This announcement was made after President Biden stated that he intends to provide directives to all the states and territories to make all adults over the age of 18 eligible for the experimental COVID-19 vaccines by May 1, 2021.3

Acting HHS Secretary Norris Cochran said:

As President Biden said last night, the key to getting us back to our lives is increasing vaccinations, and in order to do that, we need more vaccinators. … As vaccine supply ramps up, we want to be sure communities have the help they need to get shots into arms for anyone in the U.S. who wants to be vaccinated against COVID-19.4

Expanding List of Professionals Qualified to Administer COVID-19 Vaccines Under the PREP Act

The expanded COVID-19 vaccine administration workforce includes the following health professionals, who are currently or previously active within the last five years (retired or non-practicing health providers): dentists, emergency medical technicians (EMT), midwives, nurses, optometrists, paramedics, pharmacists, pharmacy interns, pharmacy technicians, physicians, physician assistant, podiatrist, respiratory therapists and veterinarians.5

Students are also allowed to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to people if they are studying in the following fields: dental, emergency medical technicians (EMT), medical, midwifery, nursing, optometry, paramedic, pharmacy and pharmacy intern, physician assistant, podiatry, respiratory therapy and veterinary.6

The PREP ACT Provides Liability Shield to Everyone Identified as a “Vaccinator”

Individuals, who are identified as vaccinators and meet requirements under the PREP Act declaration and its amendments, are provided a liability shield from lawsuits if a person they give a COVID-19 vaccine dies or is injured, except in the case of gross negligence.7

The PREP Act provides broad immunity from civil liability under federal and state laws to those engaged in activities aimed at combatting the COVID-19 pandemic, including administering experimental or licensed COVID-19 vaccines authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These liability protections were given under a declaration issued by the HHS Secretary effective Feb. 4, 2020.8

The HHS Secretary’s declaration provides that the liability protections are in effect for “Covered Persons” for recommended activities involving “Covered Countermeasures” related to activities authorized in accordance with the public health and medical response of the Authority Having Jurisdiction, including administering “Covered Countermeasures” following a Declaration of Emergency.9 Experimental COVID-19 vaccines that are administered under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) or are officially licensed by the FDA are categorized as “Covered Countermeasures”.10

“Covered Persons” include, among others, licensed health professionals authorized under state law to administer “Covered Countermeasures,” and individuals who are not currently authorized under state law to administer “Covered Countermeasures,” but who are expressly identified by HHS in a PREP Act declaration, and authorized in accordance with the public health and medical emergency response.11

American Dental Association Says Dentists Have Knowledge and Skills to Administer Vaccines

Currently, twenty-eight states have already given dentists the green light to administer experimental COVID-19 vaccines being distributed under an EUA during the declared COVID pandemic public health emergency. The federal declaration allows licensed dentists throughout the country to vaccinate the public against COVID-19, regardless of state laws that prohibit dentists from giving other vaccines.12

American Dental Association President Daniel J. Klemmedson, DDS, MD and Executive Director Kathleen T. O’Loughlin said:

Dentists already have the requisite knowledge and skills to administer vaccines and observe side effects—and many do so on a daily basis. Dentists are well educated in human anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology, and are trained to administer intra-oral local anesthesia. It is arguably more difficult to administer an inferior alveolar nerve block inside the oral cavity than to vaccinate an exposed arm and manage any side effects.13

Dentists Believe Their Relationships With Patients Will Assist in Tackling Vaccine Hesitancy

Dentists believe that their personal relationships with their patients will be a key factor in convincing patients to get the experimental COVID-19 vaccines. Some dentists say that patients see them more often than their primary care physician, which would mean they can vaccinate more people.14

Jessica Gruber, DDS, a dentist who works in Germantown, Wisconsin, says her 100-year-old family practice’s reputation among its longstanding patients could help tackle vaccine hesitancy. She says:

A lot of people see a dentist and stick with them for years and years and years. Having health care providers that have that strong foundation with their patients could be beneficial toward convincing people that this is something that is good.15


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21 Responses

    1. I share your fear. I don’t know where you live, but ask around and see if you can find a dental office who is much more vaccine friendly.

    2. Agree. Did you know that tea tree on your toothpaste can treat sensitive teeth and improve gum health? This is how I avoid the dentist and will continue to do so now.

    3. My thoughts exactly. I’m 71 and it took 4 responses back to my Primary doctor to stop her from contacting me about available appointments for the COVID shots. I would fire anyone else.

  1. Sounds similar to the method child molesters and sex traffickers use to befriend and gain the trust of their victims while they groom them for abuse.

  2. I would not trust having a dentist or his staff give a vaccine/ shot to anyone.
    They are ill equipped to handle a serious reaction. I had a severe blood pressure drop in a dentist office after a reaction to a medication they administered. I was told to sit in the waiting room with no one monitoring me. After a few minutes I went to the desk saying I felt I was going to pass out they put me in a corridor near the front desk. I was laying on a bench in the hallway and feeling very dizzy they finally saw me lying there and I told them I wasn’t feeling well then they took me back into an exam room. My blood pressure had plummeted they started monitoring me and it took a long time for it to return to normal ,all the while they were badgering me to stay awake and sit up with my eyes open. Needless to say I will not return to that dental surgeons office ever.
    If I didn’t have the wherewithal to keep telling them I needed help I may have passed out completely and been injured or something more serious.
    The best thing they could probably do is call an ambulance but by then it might be game over.

    1. I reacted adversely to the general anesthetic used when my wisdom teeth were removed. According to one of the nurses, I stopped breathing 3 times. The surgeon never gave me oxygen, just waited for me to start breathing again. I suffered a TIA because of that and the doctor covered it all up.

    2. OMG. Anyone with any brains would call the paramedics for you! You could have gone into shock and died! I hope you report that office to the ADA and also rate them on rateyourmd.com.

  3. Talk about HARD UP;WOW!
    Soon they will let the HOMELESS administer vaccines as long as they have
    slept on a sidewalk within 100 yards of
    a medical facility.

  4. Let’s forget about the dentists for now, and focus on what on earth would be the qualifications of a pharmacy technicien, respiratory therapist, podiatrist and the students of “health” programs listed to administer a vaccine? Would any of them know what to do in case of an adverse reaction? and to top it all they would get shielded from liability!!!!? what next?

  5. If the Amazon truck driver or Pharmacist who does not routinely give injections is taught, is allowed to give vaccines, then why not the dentist. Dentists are CPR trained, however even family physicians call 911 for an ambulance if an emergency arises. I am not for this vaccine right now, however most are well trained to give injections. As an Respiratory Therapist and Nurse with spouse as a Dentist, I can attest that they are qualified. Most dentists prefer not to give in the 1st place.

  6. Welcome to communism friends!! No more freedom of choice!! Ya better wake up and fight cuz the war is here!!

  7. Hey you all this is called genocide! Some government politicians have been caught saying they think we are a cancer to be rid of! WAKE UP!!!!

  8. Dentists give shot in the Mouth……….but in the Arm? But worse is Optometrist?? That really scares the heck out of me……maybe an Eye Surgeon?? That is a Stretch and super Scary. If my Optometrist suggested that …..I’d run for the hills and find someone else. How Desperate is the Gov. really getting here? I don’t even want to guess.

  9. As a former level 4 nursing student I was shocked at the vaccination guidelines for these shots. It’s not like any I have seen before. The old guidelines are very cautious…. These are if they have had a reaction the first time, don’t worry about it.. Give it. If they have autoimmune issues.. Give it. Ithink ANY medical professional that follows the CDC company line should be personally liable.

  10. So, if any adverse reactions happen, I hope they know how to use CPR.
    The pharmacies are offering FREE covid testing, I’m sure there’s no ulterior motive of course. I don’t trust the TEST either.

    BTW, does the vaccine show if there is even a ‘virus’ in the ‘vaccine’, or is it just an MRNA vaccine to modify our DNA and do weird stuff with nanoparticles? How could anyone who is pro life take a vaccine anyway, they use aborted fetal cell lines.

  11. I am allergic from penecilin and may think maybe garlic or nuts and fish and age I had vaccine swouan flu I had Rush all my body I should take covit 19 vaccines or not

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