COVID Vaccine for Dental Team Members

In order to ensure that all healthcare personnel in Connecticut have access to a COVID vaccine, the Department of Public Health sent a communication on Sunday, December 6, 2020 to licensed healthcare providers, including dentists, encouraging registration with the Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS). One representative from each employer should complete the VAMS survey which will register the employer, and will allow a roster of healthcare personnel to be uploaded. All healthcare providers included on the roster will be able to schedule a vaccination appointment once supply is available. If you did not receive the DPH’s communication with the vaccine registration button below (members' only access - password required).

Click Here for Vaccine Registration

When you register, please select the “Outpatient or Home Health Care Provider” option.

Please only complete one survey per employer. If you, an independent provider, or your employer has already completed the survey, there is no need to complete it again. Feel free to speak to your employer to ensure he/she has received the memo and completed the survey.

The deadline for completing the survey was December 18, 2020, but faster completion is important to enable rapid access to potential vaccination.

Someone in my dental office already completed the survey to be the employer coordinator, but I haven't heard back?

If you need any assistance or want to make corrections to your survey, please submit a helpdesk ticket to https://dph-cthelpdesk.ct.gov/Ticket. When submitting a ticket, select “COVID-19 Vaccine”, “Provider/Employer Organization”, and select the appropriate topic (which I think would be “VAMS Registration”). They should be able to check into the information and make sure that your registration was received.

Additional Vaccination information:

Vaccinations for Dental Personnel
We have received many questions from members asking when they will be able to upload employee rosters for access to COVID vaccinations. On Monday December 14, the Department of Public Health (DPH) sent a communication to those identified as Employer Coordinators, indicating that invitations to upload rosters may take up to two weeks, depending on availability of the vaccine. To read the memo, click here. Please note that this email was sent to the Employer Coordinator for your practice (and may not be the dentist). This most recent communication from the DPH also provides additional information on the vaccine registration process, and information on correcting errors from your initial survey (although corrections are not required).

Individuals eligible in Phase 1a are healthcare personnel who serve in a healthcare setting (including first responders involved in medical care) and have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to COVID-19 infection in their work. Dentists and dental team members are included in Phase 1a of the state’s COVID vaccine allocation.

As stated by the Department of Public Health, the intent is to have all health care workers receive their first dosage by the end of January, 2021.
If you have not already completed the COVID Vaccination Survey from the DPH to identify your Employer Coordinator, please do so by December 18, 2020. If you did not receive the survey, it is available via the link above.
On Friday, December 18, the Department of Public Health sent an email to each of the designated Employee Administrators that due to the extremely scare vaccine supply, they would be uploading the rosters for Phase 1a in three waves. We have received questions from members asking how dental staff should be classified on the roster. The three classification groups are:
1. Soft start / first Phase 1a wave: Highest risk of exposure to COVID+ patients or infectious materials – generally between 0-30% of a healthcare organization’s workforce (to be uploaded in the next days)
2. Medium risk / second Phase 1a wave: Regular patient or infectious material exposure,but not routinely working with COVID+ patients – generally between 0-50% of a healthcare organizations workforce (await further confirmation of when to upload)
3. Low risk / third Phase 1a wave: All others with potential for direct or indirect exposure to COVID – between 25-100% of a healthcare organization’s workforce (await further confirmation of when to upload)
We are recommending CSDA members to classify administrative staff in the “Low risk/third Phase 1a wave” and others in the dental office (dentist, hygienist, assistant) to be classified in the “Soft start/first Phase 1a wave.” We recognize that every office has a different situation, so please classify your staff as you deem appropriate.
Are you a Non-CSDA Member?

For additional COVID vaccinations questions visit, https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/COVID-19-Vaccinations---Employers.
Training for COVID Vaccination Volunteers
An order from the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health authorizes dentists and dental hygienists (provided they have training to administer anesthesia) to administer COVID-19 vaccinations at health care facilities, such as hospitals and community health clinics, after completing training approved by the Department of Public Health (DPH).

The approved training consists of two parts. Part 1 is an online training program through either DPH Train.org or the UCONN School of Pharmacy. Part 2 consists of a hands-on training or skills verification training either at the UCONN School of Pharmacy or through an approved skills evaluator. Please note that the list of approved skills evaluators is currently being developed and has not been uploaded yet. Members are encouraged to check the DPH’s vaccine training website periodically for updates.

You can find further information regarding the training at, https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Practitioner-Licensing--Investigations/PLIS/Approved-COVID-19-Vaccination-Training-Programs.

Part 1: Approved Online Training Programs

Department of Public Health Train.org
(https://www.train.org/connecticut/course/1095426)

OR

UCONN School of Pharmacy Course
Training - Professions Authorized to Administer COVID-19 Vaccine – State of CT – 35 Minute Presentation

a. Click on “Catalog” link
b. Click “Register” button on the course
c. Click “Proceed to Check out”

d. Fill out the registration page and click “Register

Part 2: Hands-on Training or Skills Verification

UCONN School of Pharmacy faculty – must upload your online training certificate to the UCONN School of Pharmacy page and email joanne.nault@uconn.edu for available dates and times.

OR

List of currently approved skills evaluators. (NOTE: This list of approved skills evaluators is currently being developed and has not been uploaded yet. Members are encouraged to check the DPH’s vaccine training website periodically for updates.)

Skills evaluation may be completed by one of the following professionals once they have completed a train-the-trainer orientation:
- Physician
- Physician assistant
- Advanced practice registered nurse
- Registered nurse
- Licensed practical nurse
- Paramedic
- EMS instructor (who has experience in the Epinephrine by IM Injection Program)
A list of healthcare professionals who have completed the training to administer vaccinations will be posted to the DPH’s Approved COVID-19 Vaccination Training Programs webpage.
Ready to volunteer?
If you are interested in volunteering to provide COVID vaccinations, remember to register with CTResponds at ctresponds.ct.gov. Once you have completed Parts 1 and 2 of your training, you will be able to upload your certificates to the CTResponds system. You will be contacted by your local health department, health facility, or other entities providing vaccines when your assistance is needed.

Vaccination FAQ:

If a dental hygienist (or other clinical dental office staff) has been fully vaccinated, do they need to quarantine if a member of their household has tested positive for COVID-19?

Currently, fully vaccinated health care providers including dental hygienists "with higher-risk exposures who are asymptomatic do not need to be restricted from work for 14 days following their exposure."

Please see the link below: The important piece of this link is under number 2 - Work restriction for asymptomatic healthcare personnel and quarantine for asymptomatic patients and residents. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-after-vaccination.html
Does the CDC’s recent update regarding the ability of people who have been fully vaccinated to interact with others and not wear facemasks apply CT’s healthcare workers?
Although the interaction with others outside of work is permitted without a facemask if both parties are fully vaccinated and in small gatherings, this does not apply to HCP at work. Recommendations for use of personal protective equipment by HCP remain unchanged. Universal facemask and 6 foot distancing still applies in healthcare settings. Click here to read the CDC updated Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19 Vaccination.

COVID Vaccine for Dental Team Members

Additional Vaccination information:

Are you a Non-CSDA Member?

Vaccination FAQ:

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