Faculty members were previously the only people to administer vaccinations at the school’s 25 COVID-19 vaccination clinics, but now students in the doctor of dental surgery program are authorized to administer them to patients under recent state and national regulation.
A March 11 amendment to the HHS emergency declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act authorizes dentists and dental students to administer COVID-19 vaccinations.
The California Department of Consumer Affairs also authorized dental students to administer the vaccinations under supervision.
The school said Angelica Amatangelo became the first student to administer a COVID-19 vaccination on Oct. 21.
Students who want to administer COVID-19 vaccinations must take a course at the school and complete CDC courses before administering vaccinations. The school’s vaccination curriculum includes foundational knowledge, simulated practice and supervised administration.