Dental teams ‘second in line’ for COVID-19 vaccine

Dental teams are in the second priory group for the COVID-19 vaccine, it has been confirmedDental teams are ‘second in line’ for the COVID-19 vaccine, it has been confirmed. 

Dentists and their colleagues – including receptionists and cleaners – fall under the second priority risk group in the first phase of the vaccine rollout, according to a source close to the government.

As a result, current government plans mean dental teams should be offered the first dose by mid February.

Residents in care homes for older adults and their staff make up the first priority group to receive the vaccine.

Top priority groups

But this is closely followed by those over the age of 80 and frontline health and social care workers, with dental staff falling under the latter.

Yesterday (4 January) saw the first UK resident receive the Oxford University/Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine, of which the government has secured more than 100 million doses.

At his briefing on Monday evening, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he wants those in the ‘top four priority groups’ to have been offered the first dose of a vaccine by mid February. If successful, this would total more than 13 million people.

Strictest measures

The third priority group is all people over the age of 75. In the fourth group is those over the age of 70 and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals. This does not include pregnant women and those under 16 years of age.

The news comes as England gets thrown into its third national lockdown. As of Wednesday, the country will see the implementation of the toughest restriction since the start of the pandemic.

Currently, the measures are set to be in place until mid February with no indication when they will be lifted.


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