Call to Action: Public Comment for Dental Vaccination Regulations

The Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, to receive comments on the proposed regulation from Assembly Bill 147. The bill allows for the issuance of a special endorsement to dental providers to administer vaccines, pending approval of the regulations. The proposed regulations can be read at the Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners website.

Nevada needs more vaccinators. Nevada is 45th in the nation for the ratio of active physicians to population, and nearly all vaccination rates are well under the national average. Adding dental professionals to the vaccination team is just good strategy. However, the proposed regulations are overly burdensome to actively encourage participation and fall short in the type of vaccines allowable.

The proposed regulations limit vaccine administration to influenza and COVID-19. We believe it makes sense to let the dental professional opt in to which vaccines they prefer to administer for their practice. The exclusion of the HPV vaccine is a particular oversight as it is already within the standard of practice for the dental community to screen for head and neck cancers -- which the HPV vaccine can help to prevent. Nearly 70% of oral and oropharyngeal cancers are caused by the HPV virus.

What can you do? Submit a letter of support requesting the vaccine type allowable through this special endorsement be expanded to include all vaccines. Any member of the public may submit public comment to the Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners at nsbde@dental.nv.gov. Public Comment can also be delivered in person at the meeting August 14, 2024, at 6 p.m. at 2651 N. Green Valley Pkwy, Suite 104, Henderson, Nevada. Written comments must be received on or before August 12, 2024.

Want a draft letter? You can access NCC"s letter for reference here.