ASSEMBLY, No. 5212

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JANUARY 7, 2021

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  HERB CONAWAY, JR.

District 7 (Burlington)

Assemblyman  ANTHONY S. VERRELLI

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Permits dentists to administer vaccines under certain circumstances.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act concerning vaccines and supplementing Title 45 of the Revised Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a.  A dentist may administer immunizations to patients by injection or by other delivery methods if the dentist is approved by the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry to administer 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.

     b.    A dentist may administer an influenza vaccine to a patient who is seven years of age or older.  For a patient who is under 18 years of age, a dentist shall not administer a vaccine except with the permission of the patient's parent or legal guardian.  For a patient who is under 10 years of age, a dentist shall not administer a vaccine unless pursuant to a prescription by an authorized prescriber.  Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a patient 10 years of age or older to obtain a prescription for an influenza vaccine.

     c.     An immunization administered to a patient by a dentist shall 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.

 

     2.    The New Jersey State Board of Dentistry and the State Board of Medical Examiners shall adopt rules and regulations, in accordance with the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), which are necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act.

 

     3.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill permits dentists to administer vaccines under certain circumstances.

     The bill provides that a dentist may administer immunizations to patients by injection or by other delivery methods if the dentist is approved by the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry to administer 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.

     Under the bill, a dentist may administer an influenza vaccine to a patient who is seven years of age or older.  For a patient who is under 18 years of age, a dentist is not to administer a vaccine except with the permission of the patient's parent or legal guardian.  For a patient who is under 10 years of age, a dentist is not to administer a vaccine unless pursuant to a prescription by an authorized prescriber.  Nothing in this bill is to be construed to require a patient 10 years of age or older to obtain a prescription for an influenza vaccine.