With New Jersey’s goal of reaching a COVID-19 immunization rate of 70 percent of the adult population by this summer, the state is seeking additional health care professionals to help administer vaccines to residents. Assembly Democrat Herb Conaway sponsors a bill that would allow dentists to join in these vaccination efforts.
Under the bill (A-5212), dentists would be authorized to administer vaccines related to a public health emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the influenza vaccine. Dentists would be limited to administering vaccines to adults only.
Upon the measure being advanced by the Assembly Health Committee on Wednesday, Assemblyman Conaway (D-Burlington) issued the following statement:
“We need all hands on deck when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccination efforts taking place throughout our state. This pandemic has highlighted just how important public health measures are – what affects one of us affects all of us. Having more professionals available to administer vaccines during this dire public health emergency will help our state reach higher levels of immunization faster.”
The bill now heads to the Assembly Speaker for further consideration.