The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) said dental healthcare team members, including dental students, should be among the first to receive any vaccine developed for COVID-19.
In comments submitted to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the ADEA said it agrees with the Committee on Equitable Allocation of Vaccine for the Novel Coronavirus' recommendation that "high-risk workers in healthcare facilities," including clinicians such as dentists and dental hygienists, should be prioritized for the vaccine.
In addition, dental assistants, dental therapists, dental laboratory technicians, and dental students should be included because they often serve economically disadvantaged communities.
"It is essential to ensure that practicing educator clinicians, students, and staff of these dental academic school facilities and hospitals receive the vaccine to protect them from the elevated risk they face as they provide the much-needed dental care to those unable to afford private practice fees," the association stated in the comments, submitted by ADEA President and CEO Karen West, DMD.
