COVID-19 Updates

Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to sign CDA-sponsored legislation that gives California dentists permanent authority to provide influenza and COVID-19 vaccines and obtain the required state registration to process rapid COVID-19 tests in the dental office.

To combat the COVID-19 delta variant’s deadly toll in communities nationwide, President Joe Biden on Sept. 9 announced a COVID-19 action plan that mandates vaccination, with no testing option, for Medicare- and Medicaid-participating hospitals and other health care settings.

Qualified small business owners in California, including dentists, who have experienced pandemic-related health and safety restrictions, such as business interruptions or closures or increased PPE costs, can apply Sept. 9-30 for a California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant.

California dentists and their staff are voicing two primary concerns related to the recent public health COVID-19 vaccination orders: (1) Why are individuals required to submit proof of vaccination if they can submit proof of COVID-19 antibodies, and (2) what is going on with COVID-19 booster shots? 

Dental offices in California should be complying now with the state public health order of July 26 that requires all health care workers, beginning Aug. 23, to either be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to regular testing. 

Conflicting views over mandatory vaccine policies could potentially lead to an employee quitting or getting fired and subsequently filing for unemployment. But whether an employee is still entitled to unemployment benefits if they quit or get fired for not complying with the public order varies on a case-by-case basis.