The Wisconsin Dental Association today released the following statement from WDA President Dr. Paula Crum (Green Bay), regarding the State Senate passing Senate Bill 13, which would allow dentists to administer certain vaccines:
I would like to thank the State Senate for taking bipartisan action to expeditiously pass Senate Bill 13, which will authorize dentists to administer COVID and influenza vaccines following eight hours of training and education. The Wisconsin Dental Association thanks Sen. Kathy Bernier for her leadership on this important bill, as well as for authoring an amendment reducing the training hours from 12 to 8 to more accurately reflect what is seen in other states.
This legislation is another positive contribution that the dental profession can make toward effectively combating the COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin. If signed into law, Wisconsin’s 3,500 licensed community dentists will be able to immediately have an impact on the massive vaccination efforts our state is now undertaking.
At this time, we envision dentists being able to assist in mass vaccination clinics within their local communities like the one that was just announced in Rock County last week. There are opportunities like this for both COVID and influenza. Nothing in the legislation mandates that insurance cover vaccinations by dentists.
We respectfully ask that the State Assembly take up Senate Bill 13 to efficiently send this important proposal to Gov. Evers. This provision was in large part already included in Assembly Bill 1, which was vetted and passed by the State Assembly.
