GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A new state law allows dentists to administer both that and the flu shot.
Governor Tony Evers signed the legislation on Monday.
Periodontist, Dr. Paula Crum is no stranger to giving shots,
“Yeah in very difficult places in the mouth!” said Dr. Crum who is the president of the Wisconsin Dental Association.
Senate Bill 13 allows dentists to administer the flu and COVID-19 shots after competing eight hours of training.
“Mostly to learn about storing the vaccine properly, the record keeping that we have to do,” said Crum.
“Do you know when some dentist offices might see the vaccine?” asked Fox 11.
“I don’t know,” replied Crum, “I think our first thought is that we would be another person at a mass vaccination site.”
Crum adds, “With Pfizer and Moderna, we couldn’t store that in our office anyway if we wanted to.”
Bellin Health Emergency physician, Dr. Brad Burmeister says he’s all for increased access to vaccines. But adding dentists comes at a time when health systems are still receiving a limited number of vaccines from the state.
“We’re just a bit challenged by increasing more vaccinators when we still don’t have enough supply to deliver it to our community here. So I think it’s probably a little bit of a ways off,” said Burmeister.
“Now maybe this summer it will be, but right now the state is short as it is and they are going to be giving that to the major health care providers,” agreed Crum.
“Why are dentists pushing to be able to vaccinate?” Fox 11 asked.
“I think we looked at it at this point in time as something we could do to benefit the general population in the fight against this virus,” replied Crum.
Dr. Crum says as soon as the state makes the vaccination training available – she will be working to administer the flu shot first.
Doctor Crum says people shouldn’t call their dentist to make a vaccine appointment yet.
She says not every dentist will have the vaccines, and it might take weeks for them to get any.
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