Volunteer Dentists, Working with Wayne County Health Department, Supporting efforts to vaccinate the public in Wayne County

Thanks to a change in federal law expanding the list of health professionals authorized to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine, volunteer Michigan dentists this month began vaccinating Wayne County residents. More than 50 dentists have been on hand at vaccination centers in the county and expect to administer at least 2,000 shots to the public.

The local Detroit District Dental Society (DDDS), a chapter of the Michigan Dental Association (MDA), has also delivered refreshment breaks to vaccine locations for the workers and volunteers. So far, over 280,000 residents have been vaccinated. The Wayne County Health Department provides the coronavirus vaccine to everyone who wants one in order to end the pandemic and get life back to normal.

“This is a way for dentists to thank Wayne County for all the COVID information its health officials provided to us in January so we could get our office staffs vaccinated,” said Dr. Jehan Wakeem, president of DDDS. “Other groups leading this appreciation campaign include the MDA, the Wayne County Oral Health Coalition, and the Michigan Optometric Association.”

Dentists and other health care professionals can serve as clinical volunteers because of a March 12 presidential order amending the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act. More information about the changes to the PREP Act is available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services site Expanding the COVID-19 Vaccination Workforce.

The American Dental Association (ADA) and Michigan Dental Association have provided information to dental professionals to provide information to their patients to encourage the public to receive the Covid-19 vaccines.  The ADA created a fact sheet about the status and safety of Covid-19 vaccines.  Visit ADA.org/virus for the latest information.

Photos of refreshment breaks and vaccine volunteers are available on request.

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About the Detroit District Dental Society
The Detroit District Dental Society (DDDS) was established in 1895 to service members of Wayne and Monroe Counties.  DDDS is a component of the Michigan Dental Association and the American Dental Association. This organization provides education to dental professionals and community service to promote good oral health for all Michigan residents.

About the Michigan Dental Association
The MDA works to educate the public about oral health, promotes the science and art of dentistry, and provides educational materials and services to its nearly 6,000 members, enhancing their ability to provide quality care. For more information, visit www.smilemichigan.com.