As the Government continues to flesh out the details of the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, the ADA is working closely with the Federal Department of Health to ensure they are fully considering the implications for dental practitioners and providing answers on questions specific to dentistry.
Thus far, the ADA has confirmation that dentists and other registered dental practitioners will be included in Phase 1b of the Federal Government's COVID-19 vaccine roll-out roadmap.
However, if a dentist provides services within a residential aged care facility, they may be required to receive the vaccine in Phase 1a; confirmation on whether this will take place will be provided once advice is given by the Department of Health.
In Phase 1a and 1b, recipients will be given the Pfizer vaccine which will be administered in two doses, 21 days apart. This vaccine requires cold chain storage and will only be available via designated hospital hubs as distribution centres.
While the Federal Government has indicated they will not mandate vaccination, State and Territory governments may issue public health orders that will require staff in settings considered high-risk to receive the vaccine.
