Oregon lawmakers passed a new bill that allows dentists to administer vaccines.
According to Oregon Live, Oregon is now the first state to empower dentists with the right to immunize both adults and children. Oregon dentists are now legally permitted to administer the same line up of vaccines as a regular primary care doctor.
Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry Dean Phillip Marucha says this may help to boost HPV vaccine compliance. Marucha says that many new oral cancer diagnoses are a result of HPV.
He also believes this empowers dentists to further educate their patients on the importance of vaccines.
OHSU dentistry students will be given vaccine administering courses beginning as early as next year.
For many Oregon parents who are against vaccines, the news is being interpreted as another way for the state to cash in on vaccine opportunities.