The province’s dentists are lobbying for early access to vaccinations against the COVID-19 virus.
The Ontario Dental Association has called on the government to include dentists in the initial groups of vaccine recipients.
The ODA says it sent a letter to Health Minister Christine Elliott weeks ago, requesting that dentists and dental staff be considered for early vaccination to ensure their safety “so they can continue to treat patients and less the burden on our already taxed healthcare system.”
In a statement, the association said dentists have been on the frontlines through the pandemic by keeping people with dental problems out of hospital emergency rooms.
ODA President Dr. Lesli Hapak said the association “understands the immense stress the province is under as they navigate through this pandemic, but dentists are a key part of the healthcare system…We need early access to the COVID-19 vaccine.”
The ODA represents 10,000 dentists, or about 90 per cent of practising dentists in Ontario.
