Foundation dentists supporting vaccination programmes in England

Autor: Stefan T. Serban, Sally Eapen Simon, Karen Vinall-Collier, Gail V. A. Douglas
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: British Dental Journal
ISSN: 1476-5373
0007-0610
Popis: Background In 2020/21, as part of the COVID-19 pandemic response and for the first time in England, newly qualified foundation dentists (FDs) were trained to participate in flu and COVID-19 vaccination programmes to offer additional workforce capacity. The largest of these efforts was in Yorkshire and the Humber where 106 FDs were trained and ready to mobilise. The aim of this service evaluation was to appraise the use of FDs in delivering vaccinations. Methods Mixed methods using an online questionnaire to FDs and in-depth remote interviews conducted with host organisations, Public Health England, Health Education England and others. Results The questionnaire response rate was 89% (n = 94), with 54 FDs having participated in vaccinations at a rate of 50-100 vaccines per day. All were confident with flu vaccine administration and most (n = 44/54) with COVID-19 vaccination. Eleven stakeholder interviews were conducted. Main barriers included the siloed delivery of dental care from other health services, resulting in collaborative barriers and a lack of understanding about the profession's skillsets. Facilitators included host organisations' capacity to hold multiple honorary contracts and provide competency sign-off. Conclusion Utilising the dental workforce to deliver vaccinations was feasible at a time of crisis and when trainees' access to dental patients was limited.
Key points Key stakeholders planning and delivering the 2020/21 flu vaccination programme in Yorkshire and the Humber recognised a workforce gap created by programme expansion as part of the COVID-19 pandemic response. Foundation dentists were invited to support the flu programme and later, the COVID-19 vaccination programme.Strong system leadership and collaboration between a wide range of healthcare organisations supported innovative solutions for training, indemnity, host-employment arrangements and competency sign-off. Foundation dentists mobilised for flu vaccinations were ready to be rapidly transferred to support the COVID-19 vaccination programme.In the context of limited access to dental patients due to the pandemic, foundation dentists were able to be trained to deliver vaccinations safely and effectively and their contribution to vaccination programmes was valued.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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