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Georgia’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan - 12.10.2020

GDA has been in active communication with Gov. Kemp’s staff and the Georgia Department of Public Health (“DPH”) regarding the state’s proposed COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan. The GDA submitted a formal petition to Gov. Kemp respectfully requesting that Georgia dentists and their staff be included as workers with priority eligibility to receive the vaccine when it becomes available in Georgia. Read More...
December 10, 2020

Please be advised that the GDA has been in active communication with Gov. Kemp’s staff and the Georgia Department of Public Health (“DPH”) regarding the state’s proposed COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan. The GDA submitted a formal petition to Gov. Kemp respectfully requesting that Georgia dentists and their staff be included as  workers with priority eligibility to receive the vaccine when it becomes available in Georgia. View GDA's Letter to Gov Kemp.- Dentists as Priority Healthcare Providers for COVID19 Vaccine Distribution.  
 
As stated in the recent announcement from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (“ACIP”) and based on initial reports from the ADA, front-line hospital/ER providers, long-term care workers/residents, and immunocompromised/elderly citizens will likely be at a higher priority for the initial round of vaccinations due to the relatively higher instances of COVID-19 related fatalities associated with those settings/patient populations. During Tuesday's press conference at the Capitol, Gov. Kemp and DPH Comm. Kathleen Toomey confirmed the state’s distribution plan would be consistent with these initial recommendations due to limited, initial supplies of the vaccine. 
 
We are pleased to report that we received the following preliminary response from DPH Tuesday afternoon:
 
“Thank you for reaching out again and for being a liaison between us and the dental community. As you know, DPH will base the vaccine distribution plan on the guidelines as recommended by the ACIP. Last week ACIP issued interim guidance stating that all healthcare workers who must work within 6 feet of their patient should qualify for Phase 1A. It’s clear that dentists fall into that category. Although our plan is being updated regularly, it remains interim and a living document. The categories are designed to be inclusive, but all healthcare workers will fall into the first phase.
More information will be coming in the next week or so regarding how dentists can best access the vaccine. Several options will be available based on the community, and in smaller areas, we have our public health departments as a provider for practitioners that may not be affiliated with a larger facility to receive the vaccine.” 
 
The GDA will continue to work with Gov. Kemp’s office and DPH to help ensure Georgia-licensed dentists and their staff have priority access as supplies of the vaccine become more readily available. To facilitate our ongoing discussions, please DO NOT call/contact Gov. Kemp’s office or DPH requesting priority access to the vaccine. 
 
The GDA will be providing updates as we receive more information, so please continue to monitor your emails from the GDA as this issue develops.  
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