A new executive order from Gov. Roy Cooper allows dentists in North Carolina to administer the COVID-19 vaccine.
Cooper issued executive order No. 193 on February 9, which permits licensed dentists in the state to administer the two COVID-19 vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The order also allows dentists to inject epinephrine or diphenhydramine to treat a severe allergic reaction to the vaccines.
The governor issued the order to meet the need for additional healthcare workers to administer vaccines in North Carolina and to prevent unadministered doses of the COVID-19 vaccines. The document also states that it is "critically important" to provide those administering the vaccine with protection from liability.
Dentists were not the only provider to get permission to administer vaccines under the executive order. It also extends vaccine administration privileges to people who are licensed to administer vaccines in other states, retired or have an inactive license, skilled but unlicensed volunteers, and healthcare students at an "appropriately advanced stage of professional study."
