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Gov. Gavin Newsom on Oct. 8 signed into law CDA-sponsored legislation that allows California-licensed dentists to apply for the requisite laboratory licensure to administer rapid COVID-19 tests in the dental office. The new law also gives dentists permanent authority to administer FDA-approved or FDA-authorized COVID-19 and flu vaccines.

The October 2021 issue of the Journal of the California Dental Association explores evolving approaches to caring for pediatric patients and their parents and how the pandemic has affected that care. 

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Oct. 8 signed 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.

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. 

Dental-office staff in Los Angeles County, San Francisco and Berkeley are required to show proof of vaccination to work in or enter those facilities in accordance with local public health orders first issued in fall of 2021.

California health care workers must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or submit to weekly testing under a new statewide order. What are dentists’ responsibilities as employers when it comes to unvaccinated staff? And what are their employees’ rights?

CDA has developed resources to help members comply with the California state order issued July 26 requiring health care workers either show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or submit to regular testing.

California issued an order today requiring all health care workers in the state to either show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or be tested regularly. The statewide policy will take effect Monday, Aug. 9, with full compliance required by Aug. 23.