Cary, NC – With 13% of North Carolina adults fully vaccinated for coronavirus, there is a new group of health professionals ready to join the vaccination effort: dentists.
To vaccinate more people, dentists, such as Dr. Michael Riccobene, are among those who can help now.
“Did I expect to get a COVID vaccine? Absolutely not. But am I ready for the challenge? Absolutely,” he said.
Bobby White, along with the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners, said dentists are required to take an online course offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before administering vaccines.
“The way this will be most beneficial to dentists is that they can become vaccinators through vaccination sites at the Department of Public Health,” White explained.
Dentists also have the option of being a provider where they can vaccinate in their office, but must be approved by the CDC. This is what Riccobene is currently doing for five of its locations.
“If we go through costs and training, we want to make sure we can reach as many people as possible,” Riccobene said.
Riccobene will need to ensure that its staff are trained in how to store and handle the vaccine and how to treat allergic reactions. It will also have to cover all costs, ie about $ 1,000 per location.
Riccobene said it is ready, but it is waiting and it is a long process.
“I spoke to the director of the dental commission. He said it could be a few weeks before we have access to the vaccine,” he said.
White said many dental offices are unlikely to administer vaccines because of the wait, cost, and logistical challenges.
“There are a lot of administrative hurdles that need to be removed and they are outside the dental office. It’s between the dentist and the CDC,” White said.
Dentists are allowed to administer vaccines until May 20, according to the executive order of Governor Roy Cooper, but this period could be extended at any time.