IPC Update

July 27, 2022 | Health, Safety & Environment Coordinator

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Dear Students, Faculty & Staff,

This past week, there were two public announcements on COVID-19 vaccinations, and you may be seeking direction from our programs in response. The first was that AHS has changed their policy for employees and students.  The second is that Alberta is now encouraging a 4th dose of the vaccine for all adults 18+. 

• Immunization Policy Update by Alberta Health Services. AHS has rescinded their Immunization of Workers for COVID 19 Policy effective July 18, 2022. They stated that “this applies to all AHS, Covenant Health, Carewest, CapitalCare, and Alberta Precision Laboratories employees, members of the medical and midwifery staff, students and instructors, volunteers, and applicable contracted service providers”.  They specifically stated that students will no longer be required to be immunized for COVID-19  to be eligible for participation i.  

• Eligibility for a 4th Vaccination Dose.  The province of Alberta has announced that everyone 18+ are eligible for a second booster (4th dose) five months after their 1st booster (3rd dose).

 Notwithstanding the change in requirement by AHS, the School of Dentistry IPC Team together with our Executive and Program Directors would like to strongly encourage all of our students to heed that call for a 4th dose and receive it right away or as soon as you are eligible.  If all students do this, we are collectively doing our part to protect ourselves, our patients, our families and our entire learning community from the serious consequences of COVID-19.  

 As you are aware, there is a seventh wave of COVID-19 on the rise, as a consequence of new variants.  We are planning for minimal disruption in all of our programming this year.  In order to be comfortable, your colleagues, teachers, and patients will be seeking reassurance that all dental students are fully vaccinated. 

 For yourselves individually, I would also like to caution you against over-interpreting the AHS policy change. Some of our external rotation sites are not governed by AHS policy, and will continue to expect that all students in their environment are fully vaccinated.  With the best interests of their vulnerable patients in mind, they likely will offer these learning opportunities only to students who are fully vaccinated, and they will likely define this as four vaccine doses.   

Again, I am strongly advising all students to not delay in receiving all four COVID-19 vaccination doses for which they are eligible.

Have IPC Questions, Concerns or Positive Comments? Email dentIPC@ualberta.ca.

Sincerely,
Dr. Khaled Altabtbaei, IPC Officer
Ronna Richardson-Lozano, IPC Coordinator