BILL NUMBER: S7356

SPONSOR: STAVISKY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to permitting dentists to
administer influenza and COVID vaccinations and vaccinations related to
a public health emergency

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends section 6601 of the education law to authorize dentists
to administer COVID-19, influenza vaccinations, and other vaccinations
related to a public health emergency.

Section 2 provides for an immediate effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Since the authorizing Executive Order expired in June 2021, dentists are
no longer permitted to administer COVID-19, influenza vaccinations, and
other vaccinations related to public health emergencies. Every dentist
              

in New York must have a four-year undergraduate degree, complete four
years of dental school, complete a one-year residency program, and pass
a National Dental Board examination. Dentists can administer Novocain
and other injectable medications. From a clinical perspective, dentists
certainly are just as qualified to administer vaccines as other profes-
sionals, such as pharmacists, nurses, physician assistants, and other
health paraprofessionals currently authorized to administer vaccines.

Dentists frequently communicate with primary care professionals and
other medical professionals to provide wholistic care around a patient.
This is particularly true where the dentist works in or with a federally
qualified health clinic (FQHC). FQHCs provide a wide range of services
including specialty, dental, sexual health, and primary and preventive
care -- to underserved communities.

Allowing dentists to administer vaccinations provides patients with
immediate access. Dentists can address questions and, when appropriate,
administer vaccinations when a patient is already at a medical appoint-
ment. This saves the patient from having to go somewhere else, take
additional time off from work or school and/or find someone to take care
of a family member.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

None

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.