Missouri Considering Dentists to Administer the COVID-19 Vaccine

The COVID-19 vaccine is a relief to many people, seeming like a light at the end of the large, dark, pandemic tunnel. Unfortunately, rollout feels almost agonizingly slow. The problem is that there’s a large population to vaccinate, and only so many medical professionals approved to administer vaccines. In Missouri, though, that may be changing.

Dentists are already administering vaccines in more than 20 states. In Oregon dentists have been giving COVID shots since December. Other states, like California and Illinois, are considering enlisting the help of dentists, as well. California’s Governor Gavin Newsom is also thinking about employing pharmacy techs and members of the National Guard for vaccine administration.

Of those groups of people, dentists actually seem like the most logical choice. They routinely give multiple injections on a daily basis and are experienced in dealing with a tricky area to inject. In addition to risking interference of the tongue and teeth while injecting in the mouth, dentists must account for the abundance of nerves and blood vessels the mouth contains. By contrast, injecting someone in the arm seems fairly elementary.

In Missouri, dentists are waiting for legislation to pass, allowing them to spring into action. It could be months before a bill passes, but many dentists believe it could make the COVID-19 vaccine a convenient part of a dental appointment. There could be an emergency rule change to make this happen, since earlier, a similar rule change was initiated to allow pharmacy techs to help administer the vaccine.

Missouri has already administered the first dose of the vaccine to over 89,000 residents. However, that only amounts to about 1,500 out of every 100,000 people in the state. With over 400,000 cases in Missouri, it’s the need to hasten herd immunity is clear.

At West County Dental, we provide personalized family dental care using state of the art procedures. Adhering to a standard of excellence, we provide comprehensive treatment, from preventive care to restorative dentistry. When you make an appointment with West County Dental, you can be confident that our team of highly-trained dental professionals will provide you the care you need for a healthy smile. Call (314) 488-2921 or contact us through our website today!