By Dominique Jack

NEW YORK (PIX11) — Should the five boroughs face another public health emergency, dentists could be the ones administering vaccines, under a proposed New York City Council bill.

Resolution 0273-2026, sponsored by Lynn C. Schulman, seeks to allow dentists to give vaccines for the flu, COVID-19, HPV, or any other illnesses during a public health emergency.

In the resolution, councilmembers pointed to changes in the federal government’s recommended vaccine schedule for children. They say the changes have reduced the number of advised vaccines and have created confusion for pharmacies trying to administer them.

Councilmembers say pharmacies being more selective in providing vaccines can threaten access for communities and threaten public health.

Dentists would be positioned to help respond to the need due to their educational requirements being roughly equivalent to that of a pharmacist in New York City, according to councilmembers.

The proposed resolution is intended to expand access to vaccines and would make New York City the sixth location in the U.S. to pass a bill of this kind, sponsors say.

Following a City Council meeting on Thursday, the bill has since been passed to the Committee of Health for further review.

Link to story: https://pix11.com/news/local-news/nyc-dentists-could-administer-vaccines-if-need-be-under-proposed-bill/