While the US is looking for ways to speed up the delivery of Covid-19 vaccines, some states and suppliers are attracting nontraditional vaccinators, including dentists, retirees, and college students, to help with the process.
On Monday, the California Department of Consumer Affairs approved an emergency exemption allowing dentists to administer Covid-19 vaccines to people 16 and older. The American Dental Association says dentists are allowed to give the vaccine in multiple states, including Oregon, where the first dentist in the US to administer a Covid-19 vaccine did so last month.
Some health systems, such as the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Medicine, are tapping into a resource of newly trained nursing, medical, and dental students to assist in the vaccination effort.
“We have used a number of atypical vaccinators because we want to prioritize keeping our licensed nurses at the bedside,” said Dr. Sarah Nafziger, professor of emergency medicine at UAB. “While we roll out the vaccine, we’re dealing with a patient bump at the same time.”
Some jurisdictions are looking for retired health professionals who have the skills to administer vaccines and are not actively addressing Covid-19 patients.
“It’s a lot of retired doctors who are standing up to act as vaccinators,” Judy Persichilli, the New Jersey state commissioner, said at a news conference Wednesday.
Covid-19 vaccinators must be trained and authorized.
Dr. William Reynolds, president of the American Optometric Association, says optometrists are an untapped resource in the vaccination effort. He said they are widespread and ready to jump into smaller and rural communities that may need more manpower.
The association says 19 states allow optometrists to administer drugs by injection – and in California, they can administer flu and shingles vaccines – but they are not authorized to give the Covid-19 vaccine specifically.
“We want to be part of the solution,” said Reynolds.