California’s COVID Vaccination Mandate Doesn’t Apply to Dental Offices

California has released a mandate stating that it is now mandatory that school children are vaccinated, the first mandate of its kind in the country. However, it’s not the first state to put mandatory measures in place.

California’s Current COVID Vaccination Mandates

California has hit the headlines over the last two weeks — rather frequently — due to its controversial decision to make the COVID vaccination mandatory for school children over the age of 12. Headlines are already appearing about potential protests and strikes. That isn’t the first mandate the state has received backlash over.

California was the first state to make it mandatory for healthcare workers to have the vaccine, but that doesn’t apply to dental offices despite dentists reporting seeing 90% of the patients they would have done before the pandemic and typically carrying out aerosol-generating procedures.

What About The Rest Of The US and Canada?

While the American Dental Association isn’t backing mandatory vaccinations for dental practitioners, it is strongly advising that all dental workers get the vaccine. That doesn’t stop states from creating a mandate to make it happen.

Recently Canada hit the headlines for its COVID vaccination mandate that’ll place federal workers on unpaid leave until they get their shot. Still, dental offices aren’t in the firing line, with clinics such as the Brampton dental office opting to use daily staff screening as a preventative measure – many other clinics are following the same procedures. Currently new in the firing line is anyone wanting to use transportation, be it by air, land, or sea. Consider yourself walking if you don’t have proof of vaccination.

Los Angeles and San Francisco have placed a public order stating that dental staff who can’t show proof of a COVID vaccination will not be able to use regular testing instead – AKA, they either quit their job or get the vaccine. There’s a high possibility that the rest of the US and Canada will follow suit. New York has made vaccinations mandatory if people want to enter gyms, restaurants, and indoor entertainment spaces. Find more updates on the various mandates states are releasing here.

Future Mandate Potentials

Realistically, the policies, mandates, and procedures regarding COVID-19 are changing daily. Healthcare workers will likely one day have to show proof of vaccination – including dental staff. A recent statement by Joe Biden confirmed companies with 100 staff members or more must show proof of vaccination or complete regular tests. If this were to follow the same path as dental staff in LA and San Francisco, it’ll soon be mandatory to be double vaccination.

There’s also a lot of rumors about the need for vaccinations to travel – although there currently is no requirement. It’s also fair to assume that many states will take New York’s stance, requiring residents to be double vaccinated to enter many public spaces.

The pandemic has brought the unknown into question. Rules and regulations are so rapidly evolving as new science and data are unearthed, guiding the powers that be to make the decisions they do. An easy way to keep up with local mandates is to check your state’s website for updates.

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