Your Weekly COVID-19 Update

May 27, 2021

Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Second Dose

As the ODA shared two weeks ago, the provincial government has announced that health-care workers classified as "highest priority" in the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) COVID-19: Guidance for Prioritizing Health Care Workers for COVID-19 Vaccination are eligible for the second dose of the vaccine in an accelerated timeframe. This includes hospital-based dentists and other workers who have frontline roles treating COVID-19 positive patients or are at a heightened risk of exposure to COVID-19.

Community-based dentists and their teams were classified "very high priority" for their first dose, but are not currently eligible for an accelerated second dose. The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) confirmed this earlier today.

Over the past few weeks, the ODA has raised the issue of community-based dentists’ access to the second dose. Today, the ODA wrote to Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force. The ODA’s letter reaffirms its continued position that vaccinations for health-care workers must be a priority, but due to the supply of the vaccine we understand some groups, such as those treating COVID-19 positive patients, will get their doses first.

The MOH has stated that it is considering the situation. The ODA recognizes that the MOH has to balance the ethical, timely and effective distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine as the pandemic and vaccine supply situation evolves. The Ontario government’s reopening plan is based largely on the vaccination rate of the public and there are many considerations being balanced.

Individual vaccination sites and public health units are following the MOH’s guidance. Dentists are reminded to please cooperate with vaccination sites as per the communication from the RCDSO in April.

The government reports that vaccine supply will continue to improve in the coming weeks. As "very high priority" health-care workers, community-based dentists and their teams should be considered for the next eligible group. The ODA will update members as we have more information about the vaccine roll-out.

Antigen Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) update

On May 21, 2021, the MOH published updated COVID-19 Guidance: Considerations for Antigen POCT, noting that positive results issued are no longer required to be reported to the local public health unit. Members should familiarize themselves with the RCDSO’s COVID-19 Guidance: Antigen POCT and seek independent legal advice to ensure compliance with the legal responsibilities including those related to workplace health and safety.

ODA Advocacy – Helping Dental Schools Address In-person Capacity Limits for Post-Secondary Institutions

The ODA is pleased to share that on May 20, 2021, O.Reg.82/20 was amended to add both dentistry and dental hygiene to the list of training programs that permit 50 persons in an instructional space. This means that dental programs can operate in shutdown and grey zones with enhanced capacity limitations.

This change is a result of the ODA working collaboratively with the University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry and Western University Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry to address this issue. This came in the form of multiple submissions from all parties in support of these changes and a student-led campaign to engage their Members of Provincial Parliament earlier this year.

This week’s PPE offers

This week’s PPE offers include buy more, save more offers on ODA Supply Hub and price reductions and discounts from some of the other suppliers. Find the latest offers or learn more about the PPE vendor programs on the ODA site.

Other offers:

Cintas Canada has expanded its ODA program to include first aid and safety. You can save 20 to 25 per cent on first aid and safety products (including eyewash stations), on-site restocking services and AED program. Complete the Cintas Request Form and a representative will contact you or your team to review your requirements. Visit Cintas Canada in the MDP section to learn more.