Purpose: WAC 246-817-581 Novel coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination by licensed dental hygienist. The dental quality assurance commission (commission) adopted rules allowing dentists to delegate administration of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination to licensed dental hygienists with close supervision and demonstration of competency. The adopted rule also provides for acceptance of approved vaccination protocols and screening to meet the dentist's requirement to diagnose and authorize treatment.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, dentists are among the essential health providers who can safely administer vaccinations and help address this public health emergency. Mass vaccination across the state has taken cooperation and coordination across the entire health system. Dentists and delegated dental hygienists can increase capacity for priority populations who may not otherwise be connected to the traditional health care system and will establish additional avenues and opportunities for future need. Permanent rule making allows dentists to continue delegating COVID-19 vaccinations to dental hygienists after the governor ends the state of emergency. Vaccinations and potential booster vaccinations will be necessary to prevent another outbreak. Efforts to prevent another outbreak, including increased health care worker capacity and vaccination availability in new settings, need to continue to preserve public health, safety, and the general welfare of patients and dental staff.

The commission filed emergency rule making as WSR 21-06-012 on February 19, 2021; extended emergency rule making as WSR 21-13-091 on June 18, 2021; and WSR 21-21-052 on October 15, 2021, for COVID-19 vaccination delegation. This permanent rule will replace the emergency rule. The commission will rescind the emergency rule once the permanent rule becomes effective.

A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Bruce Bronoske, Jr., P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-236-4843, fax 360-236-1901, TTY 711, email bruce.bronoske@doh.wa.gov, website www.doh.wa.gov, dental@doh.wa.gov.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

(1) A supervising dentist may delegate the administration of a vaccination of novel coronavirus disease 2019 to a licensed dental hygienist under the dentist's close supervision, provided the licensed dental hygienist has demonstrated skills necessary to perform the task competently.

(2) For the purpose of administering vaccination for the novel coronavirus disease 2019, a dentist's approval of the vaccination protocol and screening meets the dentist's requirement to diagnose the condition to be treated and personal authorization of the procedure as required by close supervision under WAC 246-817-510(1).