Governor David A. Paterson issued Executive Order 29 on October 28 declaring a State Disaster Emergency allowing additional health care workers, including dentists, to administer influenza vaccinations. The order is limited in that it expires 30 days after October 28, 2009. The order also is limited in that vaccinations must be given only at Department of Health approved sites and only upon the non-patient-specific order of a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner in control at those sites. Additional training that is approved by the Commissioner of Health, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, is required of dentists in order to give the vaccinations and under no circumstances may a child under six months of age or any person for whom the vaccination would be medically contraindicated be vaccinated by a dentist.

“The New York State Executive order excludes dentists from administering the vaccine in their private practices, and that is probably where our profession would be the most effective,” said Dr. Michael Breault, NYSDA president.

Health care workers identified in the order, including dentists and dental hygienists who are certified for local infiltration anesthesia/nitrous oxide, will be required to receive training and will work under the direction of the State or county health departments at mass vaccination clinics called “Points of Dispensing” (PODs) under the order.

“I have no doubt our profession will do all it can to provide assistance in preventing further influenza outbreaks, but we wish we had been given a chance to provide input to the Governor to maximize dentists’ medical skills within our own practice operatories,” said Dr. Breault.

NYSDA will continue to update members with influenza resources at www.nysdental.org.

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