Volume 8 • 2021 • Issue 1

2021 will be the year of vaccination, but it will also be a year when we’ll still have to keep high levels of precaution in place for society at large, as well as in dental offices. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official policies of the Canadian Dental Association. the United Kingdom and South Africa. If you look at the polio vaccine, the disease only started to abate significantly in the second and third year after the oral version of the vaccine was rolled out, when a meaningful percentage of the population had been vaccinated. 2021 will be the year of vaccination, but it will also be a year when we’ll still have to keep high levels of precaution in place for society at large, as well as in dental offices. Q What barriers do you see to a successful vaccination effort in Canada? AB: Vaccine hesitancy and misinformation on social media! There are a lot of baseless claims being made on social media that use scientific-sounding language and prey upon common fears. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have gone through rigorous processes in the US and Canada before being approved for use. Before that, the vaccines went through testing in lab animals, preliminary clinical trials and very large clinical trials. We’ve been using vaccines very effectively since the 1950s. The Pfizer vaccine that’s already been administered appears to have gone well. Like the flu vaccine, you might have a bit of a sore arm after the shot. There are a small number of people who won’t feel great the next day, maybe a headache or a fever. This reaction likely means their immune system is identifying the vaccine and reacting quickly. About 0.4% of the people with COVID get very seriously ill so it wouldn’t surprise me if a similarly small proportion of people who get the vaccine will have a stronger reaction and not feel great. But if you compare the serious illness and possible death caused by COVID to the side effects of the vaccine, I would choose the vaccine every time. Vaccines are the only way to end the pandemic. They won’t eradicate the disease, but they will mitigate its effects substantially. Q Does someone who’s had COVID still need to get vaccinated? AB: Yes. It is unclear how much immunity results from having had COVID or how long this immunity lasts. Early case reports of reinfection with COVID suggest about 3 months. At this point, the evidence suggests that everyone should get vaccinated. Q How will this stage of the pandemic affect the number of patients who seek dental care? AB: Many dentists are concerned about the ebb and flow of patients especially as we go through these repeated cycles of spikes and decreases in community infection rates. It’s challenging to maintain momentum in the face of uncertainty. In some parts of Canada, patient numbers are stable. Dental claims data that CDA compiles shows that patient visits and treatments resumed quickly after dentists reopened in the spring and remained stable for the rest of 2020. The overall profile and number of patients were quite similar to 2019 figures by the end of the year I wish that we could all have less uncertainty and that the outlook was clearer. On my most recent clinic day, I drove a couple hours and worked through five difficult emergency cases with the team. Except for our time in the operatory, we were always at least 6-feet apart, wearing N95s and shields, and didn’t really have a chance to debrief on the day. We all had a lot on our minds and were busy making sure we followed the protocols. So much has changed since this time last year. Where is dentistry going? What will the economy be like? This is still uncharted territory. I’m very much looking forward to the changes that the vaccine will bring. I’m proud of the work that we’ve all done together. I’m tired, but hopeful. 10 | 2021 | Issue 1 CDA at W ork