New law lets Oregon dentists administer all vaccines

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A bill to allow dentists in Oregon to administer vaccines to patients has been signed into law.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Oregon is the first state in the country to allow dentists to administer any vaccine available at a primary care doctor’s office.

Most people may not get their measles, polio and tetanus shots from the dentist, but Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry Dean Phillip Marucha says they might want vaccines relevant to oral health such as HPV.

He says a large percentage of new oral cancer diagnoses are linked to HPV, a sexually transmitted infection that can also cause cervical cancer and genital warts.

Marucha said that this law allows a dentist to educate patients about the value of the HPV vaccine and then administer it onsite.

OHSU dentistry students will all learn how to administer vaccines starting next year.