WORCESTER, Mass. - Hundreds of Worcester first responders got their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine last week, and a handful of those helping to administer it are in the dental profession.
Dr. Helen Livson, a periodontist, was one volunteer.
Dr. Livson said, “It was nice to actually be able to feel like you're helping you know seeing the first responders there was great. They were really really thankful. So it was a great experience for me. You know the ability to know that I can actually help in some way beyond sort of what I've been doing in my little corner here.”
Other dentists could soon be helping out at vaccination clinics across the state.
Dr. Abe Abdul practices at Lux Dental in the Boston area. He created and sent a petition to Governor Charlie Baker advocating for approval for dentists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine.
Recently, The Board of Registration in Dentistry gave the final approval.
Dr. Abdul said, “I thought this was the prime time to alert our legislators and alert our communities that hey we dentists we're here with the knowledge and education we have, we stand ready to serve. We are all very much excited.”
Dentists in Central Massachusetts say they are ready to help and go through the training. Some say they would be open to giving the vaccine in their offices, if logistics like temperature storage allowed.
Dr. Michael Cooper of Cooper Dental said, “Dentists are kind of uniquely positioned. We know pharmacology, we know the anatomy, we give probably more shots than anybody else on a daily basis. So it's kind of a unique position to really help our patients and give the vaccine. When it's available to the masses.”
Dr. Joseph Costa Jr. of Russell Street Dental Associates in Worcester said, “It's a service that I think we can very easily provide to patients, especially given the patients come to the dentist twice a year, every six months. It would be a very logical place for them to come, just feel comfortable being vaccinated.”
Dentists don’t have a definite date from the states’ Department of Public Health of when they will be vaccinated. The COVID-19 vaccine Super Site in Worcester did offer the vaccine to the dentists who volunteered.