ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5212

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 13, 2021

     The Assembly Health Committee reports favorable and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 5212.

      As amended and reported, this bill provides that if a dentist is approved by the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry to administer influenza vaccines or human papillomavirus vaccines and related emergency medications and if the dentist is in compliance with rules promulgated by the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry and the State Board of Medical Examiners, the dentist may administer an influenza vaccine to a patient who is 18 years of age or older.

      Further, the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry may certify a dentist to administer immunizations to patients who are 18 years of age or older during a public health emergency which are intended to prevent or reduce the transmission of the disease that is the basis for the declared public health emergency.

      An immunization administered to a patient by a dentist is to be reported by the dentist to the New Jersey Immunization Information System established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2004, c.138 (C.26:4-134) as required pursuant to N.J.A.C.8:57-3.16, for inclusion in the patient's registry.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The amendments provide that a dentist may administer the influenza vaccine or the human papillomavirus vaccine to a patient who is 18 years of age or older.  Further, the amendments provide that a dentist may administer immunizations to patients who are 18 years of age or older during a public health emergency which are intended to prevent or reduce the transmission of the disease that is the basis for the declared public health emergency.