A Message for CDA Corporate Member Provincial Dental Associations

Below is a snapshot of the Canadian Dental Association’s (CDA) pandemic-related work for the week ending March 19, 2021. CDA’s next update is slated for April 23, 2021.

Fast Facts: Current COVID-19 Situational Report

Dr. Aaron Burry, CDA’s COVID-19 Team Lead and Deputy CEO - Professional Affairs, provides a video update on COVID-19 trends, case growth and the administration of COVID-19 vaccines in Canada. Highlights include:

• The rolling average of new COVID-19 cases in Canada is plateauing at around 3,000 per day. This pattern has been noted in Europe where a plateau has preceded a marked growth or third wave.
• Vaccination against the COVID-19 virus is ramping up in Canada. There is considerable variation in accessing the vaccine across provinces.
• It is important to be aware of new COVID-19 variants on the rise. New variants spread rapidly and have proven to be very difficult for communities to control.
• In response to a rise in new variants, the trend in public health measures is to require individuals who may have come in contact with someone confirmed with COVID-19 to quarantine for 14 days. Doing so is intended to contain the spread of new variants.
• To avoid the spread of infection, dental office staff should continue to be vigilant and not let their guard down.

Video Length: 3 minutes. Recorded: March 16, 2021.

Orientation Session: Presentation by Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)

On March 16, 2021, Dr. Howard Njoo, Deputy Chief Public Health Officer with PHAC, attended CDA’s monthly COVID-19 Update meeting with provincial dental association Presidents and CEOs to present Canada’s COVID-19 Response and Immunization Plan: Saving Lives and Livelihoods. The talk concluded with a Q&A session. The presentation includes information about:

• Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response in Canada
• Key Public Health Functions at the Federal Level, including:
  
  • Surveillance
  • Knowledge broker
  • Convenor/facilitator
  • Public health capacity building and surge support
  • Laboratory science leadership
  • Regulatory responsibilities
  • International engagement
  • National/international communications
• COVID-19 has Inequitable Impacts
• New COVID-19 Variants
• Canada’s Immunization Plan
• The Importance of Staying Vigilant
• Call to Action: Be an Ambassador for COVID-19 Vaccination

Video Length: Approximately 1 hour. Recorded: March 16, 2021.

CDA Advocacy and Federal Government Announcements

Update: 2021 Federal Budget. On March 8, 2021, it was revealed that the 2021 Federal Budget will not be delivered in March as many were expecting, given its tendency to be tabled in the first financial quarter of the year (before March 31) for ease of financial reporting. Based on the House of Commons’ calendar, the House will be in recess from March 29 to April 9, 2021. Therefore, the first opportunity for Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, to table a Budget will be the week of April 12, 2021, with the House of Commons sitting daily from then until the week of May 10, 2021.

Update: Committee Activity. The Standing Committee on Health is continuing its Emergency Situation Facing Canadians in Light of the Second Wave of the COVID-19 study. The last meeting was held on March 11, 2021 to discuss the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Update: National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). On March 16, 2021, NACI changed its guidelines on the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine and is now recommending it be given to those over age 65.

COVID-19 Practice Recovery Task Force (“The Task Force”):

This group includes representatives from all Corporate Member provincial dental associations (PDAs). The Task Force continues to work together to discuss deliverables for:

1. information exchange on return-to-practice status across the country;
2. strategies for obtaining and securing PPEs; and
3. communications to the public on dentists returning to practice.

Ongoing: Mental Health in the Workplace. Safeguarding your mental health and overall wellness is important, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Task Force continues to coordinate the evaluation of a short course on mental health in the workplace from the Mental Health Commission of Canada to see if there is value in adapting or customizing this for dentistry. More information to follow as this work progresses.

New! Resources on Vaccine Hesitancy Now Available. It is anticipated that more vaccines will be made available to Canadians throughout 2021. In preparation for this milestone, CDA has produced a package of resources to help dentists facilitate the discussion with their teams around the importance of immunization. The suite of materials includes the following resources, and has been made available earlier this week to Corporate Members, via the Dental Communications Group, to use and adapt, as deemed appropriate:

1. Huddle notes for dentists: Let’s Talk About … COVID-19 Vaccines: A conversation guide for dentists with their teams
2. Electronic handout: COVID-19 Resource Listing
3. Printable handout: Top 20 Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccines
4. Printable handout: Fast Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines
5. Printable handout: Top 10 Myths about COVID-19 Vaccines
6. Printable dental office posters: Sleeve-up series
7. Social media: Sleeve-up series
8. Website content (may be repurposed or PDAs can link back to this CDA webpage)
9. Social video (Top Ten List with Dr. Aaron Burry - COVID-19 Vaccine Myths)

A COVID-19 vaccine section has also been added to the CDA website: www.cda-adc.ca/covid19vaccine

A preview of one of the new posters included in CDA’s resource package called Sleeve Up: Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy. Colours and text may vary as PDAs may adapt the materials for use by their member dentists.

Reminder: The Task Force continues to review and prioritize its list of deliverables. Any specific expectations or special requests of the Task Force should be fed forward by Corporate Member PDAs to their PDA member Task Force representative.

Canadian Forces’ COVID-19 Vaccination Training Information

As information, the Canadian Forces Health Services Group Headquarters shared its didactic online training document with CDA.

The package provides links to videos that are accessible outside of the Department of National Defence platform. The training, credentialing and privileging pathway, as described at Index links 1 to 3 in the document, includes demonstration of knowledge and skills with a Primary Immunizer (PI).

Corporate Member provincial dental associations and other stakeholders may reference the document as background to help inform the development of their respective vaccination training programs, as deemed appropriate.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) Webinar for Health Care Providers

New! COVID-19 Vaccines Webinar: Recommendations of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine

This moderated and live webinar includes a presentation and discussion on the NACI Recommendations for the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, with live Q&A to inform health care and vaccine providers. This webinar is hosted by the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID), in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

Presentation highlights:

• To describe the characteristics of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine platform.
• To outline the clinical evidence for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
• To summarize NACI recommendations on the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
• To present key information on handling and administering the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

English Session: Tuesday, March 23, 2021
3:30pm – 4:30pm EDT
Moderator: April Killikelly, PhD, PHAC
Participants: Dr. Robyn Harrison, NACI, Dr. Jesse Papenburg, NACI, Dr. Martin Lavoie, NACI liaison from the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health (CCMOH), Dr. Bryna Warshawsky, PHAC, Michael Rosu-Myles and Leo Bouthillier, Health Canada
Register: Click here

French Session: Thursday, March 25, 2021
12:00pm – 1pm EDT
Moderator: Andrea Gartley, BScN, PHAC
Participants: Dr. Jesse Papenburg, NACI, Dr. Martin Lavoie, NACI liaison from the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health (CCMOH); Charlene Young and Leo Bouthillier, Health Canada
Register: Click here

Please note, due to time limitations, not all questions can be answered. The same presentation will be delivered in English and in French. The webinars will be recorded and available on the NCCID website immediately following each event.

For any registration difficulties, please contact NCCID: nccid@umanitoba.ca

Previous Public Health Agency of Canada COVID-19 vaccine webinars can be found at Canada.ca:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/health-professionals.html#a11

And NCCID: https://nccid.ca/category/webinar/

GST/HST Relief for the Importation of Certain PPE, including Face Masks and Face Shields

On December 7, 2020, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) issued a notice indicating that in support of public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada proposes to temporarily relieve (i.e., zero rate) supplies of certain face masks and face shields from the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST).

This proposed temporary relief is applicable for goods that meet certain requirements, which are imported after December 6, 2020. The relief will only be in effect until their use is no longer broadly recommended by public health officials for the COVID-19 pandemic, at which time CBSA will issue an updated Customs Notice. The Canada Revenue Agency’s FAQs provide more comprehensive details regarding GST/HST Relief for face masks and face shields.

On behalf of the dental profession, CDA contacted the Dental Industry Association of Canada (DIAC) to find out whether its members are still charging GST/HST at source. DIAC confirmed that its members have implemented these changes in December 2020 or early 2021. Please see DIAC’s letter in response to CDA’s inquiry on this matter.

Knowledge and Information Broker:

CDA Oasis is CDA’s primary channel of communication for delivering urgent information to the dental community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following discussions have been recorded since CDA’s last COVID-19 update. Be sure to check these out:

• Top 10 Myths about COVID-19 Vaccines:
  When seeking information about the COVID-19 vaccines, it is important to seek out trusted sources of information. Get the facts and tune out the noise. Dr. Aaron Burry exposes the most frequently encountered myths about the COVID-19 Vaccines. (March 17, 2021)
• The Impact of the COVID-19 Vaccines on Fertility, Pregnancy, and Breastfeeding:
  One of the myths that are circulating is that the COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility. Dr. Arthur Zaltz answers questions about the impact of COVID-19 vaccines on fertility, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. (March 16, 2021)
• COVID-19 Update – Variants, Vaccinations & Infection Control Protocols:
  Dr. Aaron Burry provides the latest information we gathered on COVID-19 variants, vaccines and vaccinations, and the importance of sticking to the strict infection control protocols in the dental office. (February 24, 2021)

This week’s CDA Oasis Bulletin collated relevant and timely “news that you can use” related to COVID-19.

Reminder: CDA Essentials, Issue 1 is available online. Here are some of the edition’s highlights pertaining to the pandemic:

• President’s Column, A Reason for Hope
• Your COVID-19 Questions Answered
• Finding Positivity in a time of COVID-19

CDA Help Desk:

CDA’s Help Desk continues to assist dentists and dental office employees on how to navigate and access federal government support programs.

For assistance on how to navigate these support programs for Canadians and businesses, please call 1-866-232-0385, M-F, 7:30 A.M. – 8:00 p.m. EDT.

Mental Health and Wellness:

It is important to safeguard your mental health and wellness. Individuals can access mental health and wellness support by calling CDSPI’s Members’ Assistance Program (MAP) at 1.844.578.4040 or visiting www.workhealthlife.com

MAP provides a variety of resources to help individuals deal with life's challenges. It is a confidential counselling, referral and information service for individuals who are dealing with mental health challenges or need advice on topics such as physical fitness, nutrition or parenting. MAP services and resources are offered through Shepell, Canada’s largest provider of Employee and Family Assistance Programs.

Reminders: Issue 1 of CDA Essentials includes the following articles related to mental health and wellness:

• How Canadian Dentists are Dealing with Stress and Uncertainty
• Would You Recognize Mental Illness?

Also check out the following wellness discussions featured in CDA Oasis:

• The Importance of a Good Sleeping Position:
  Dr. Uche Odiatu compares the benefits and drawbacks of the three fundamental sleeping positions. He recommends sleeping aids for those with sleep difficulties and explains why it is never a good idea to sleep on your stomach. (March 15, 2021)
• The Impact of Different Diets on Quality of Life:
  Dr. Uche Odiatu talks about how we can promote brain function by choosing better quality foods that douse the flames of chronic inflammation. (March 11, 2021)

CDA COVID-19 Repository at a Glance:

CDA serves as a COVID-19 Repository for Corporate Member PDAs by collecting advice and available COVID-19 resources from external organizations and any sources that PDAs wish to share. The information is placed in the Repository and is exclusively available for use by the PDAs, for onward transmission to their respective dentist members, as deemed appropriate.

For quick reference, the following materials have been added to the Repository since CDA’s last COVID-19 update. As of November 2020, resources listed below and posted in the repository appear in the language it was created in. For the complete resource listing, please log in to view them all. Login details on how to access the Repository are below.

Dental Schools, Research, Journal Articles and Continuing Education Resources

American Dental Association

• HPI Webinar: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Dental Care Sector. Insights for the week of February 15^th. (March 9, 2021)

American Dental Hygienist Association

• Webinar: The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and the American Dental Association (ADA) have partnered for the first time to conduct a study of U.S. dental hygienists’ infection rates and infection control practices related to COVID-19. (February 2021)

International Resources

FDI World Dental Federation

• Statement: FDI Council Statement on COVID-19 Vaccination (February 25, 2021)
• Press Release: New FDI World Dental Federation global survey reveals that two-thirds of countries are not allowing dentists to administer COVID-19 vaccines (February 25, 2021)

National Resources:

Canadian Dental Association

• Top 10 Myths about COVID-19 Vaccines:
  When seeking information about the COVID-19 vaccines, it is important to seek out trusted sources of information. Get the facts and tune out the noise. Dr. Aaron Burry exposes the most frequently encountered myths about the COVID-19 Vaccines. (March 17, 2021)
• The Impact of the COVID-19 Vaccines on Fertility, Pregnancy, and Breastfeeding:
  One of the myths that are circulating is that the COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility. Dr. Arthur Zaltz answers questions about the impact of COVID-19 vaccines on fertility, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. (March 16, 2021)
• The Importance of a Good Sleeping Position:
  Dr. Uche Odiatu compares the benefits and drawbacks of the three fundamental sleeping positions. He recommends sleeping aids for those with sleep difficulties and explains why it is never a good idea to sleep on your stomach. (March 15, 2021)
• The Impact of Different Diets on Quality of Life:
  Dr. Uche Odiatu talks about how we can promote brain function by choosing better quality foods that douse the flames of chronic inflammation. (March 11, 2021)
• COVID-19 Update – Variants, Vaccinations & Infection Control Protocols:
  Dr. Aaron Burry provides the latest information we gathered on COVID-19 variants, vaccines and vaccinations, and the importance of sticking to the strict infection control protocols in the dental office. (February 24, 2021)

Provincial Dental Association / Regulatory Body Resources:

British Columbia Dental Association

• Member Update: Reduced Training Requirements for Dentist Vaccinators, Upcoming Webinars (March 18, 2021)
• Member Update: Spring YourDentalHealth Campaign, New BCDA Member Discounts (March 16, 2021)
• Member Update: Dentists & Clinical Staff in VIHA Now Eligible for Vaccine (March 12, 2021)
• Member Update: Message from BCDA's Executive Director (March 11, 2021)
• COVID-19 Vaccine Alert: Receiving Vaccinations in VCH & FHA (March 10, 2021)
• Member Update: Dentists & Dental Staff Practicing in VCH Region Now Eligible for Vaccine (March 9, 2021)
• Member Update: Drug-Seeking Behavior, Tobacco Dependency Training for Dentists (March 9, 2021)
• COVID-19 Vaccine Alert: FHA Clinical Dental Professionals: Extension of Deadline & Staff Clarification (March 8, 2021)
• Member Update: BCDA at PDC, Spring YourDentalHealth Campaigns, Health Canada Survey (March 4, 2021)
• Member Update: Information for Dentists Interested in Being a COVID-19 Vaccinator (March 2, 2021)
• Member Update: UBC Study on Inclusion of Students with Disabilities, Final Reminder: Call for Officers & Directors (February 25, 2021)
• Issue Alert: Dentists Included in BC's COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Plan (February 24, 2021)
• Member Update: BCDA @ PDC, Call for Nominations to BCDA’s Board of Directors (February 23, 2021)

Manitoba Dental Association

• E-Alert: MDA COVID-19 vaccine Eligibility criteria for Manitobans (February 23, 2021)

New Brunswick Dental Society

• President's Message (March 19, 2021)
• IMPORTANT: COVID-19 Vaccine (March 18, 2021)
• COVID-19 Vaccine Update (March 12, 2021)
• Bi-weekly Update: COVID-19 Vaccine Update; AVDC Registration; Reminders and more. (March 4, 2021)

Nova Scotia Dental Association:

• Dispatch: NSDA’s new CDSPI representative, AVDC registration, Member webinar this Thursday, CADTH survey on CBCT in dentistry . . . And More (March 9, 2021)
• Dispatch: Looking for volunteers, New provincial RDA training program – NSDA member webinar, New resources & information from CDA and more. (February 24, 2021)

Ontario Dental Association

• Weekly COVID-19 Update: Update from the Pandemic Recovery Working Group: Change in Second Vaccination Dose Timing; First Canadian Benefits (FCB) COVID-19 Health and Dental Relief Program; Access the Latest PPE Offers; and New Resources for Continued Vigilance. (March 17, 2021)
• Weekly COVID-19 Update: COVID-19 Vaccine Update: Vaccinations Underway; COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Workplace; Advocacy Updates; Access the Latest PPE Offers; Virtual Candlelight Vigil to Mark One Year of COVID-19 (March 10, 2021)
• Weekly COVID-19 Update: COVID-19 Vaccinations for the Dental Team Begin; Mandating COVID-19 Vaccinations in the Workplace; PPE Offers This Week (March 3, 2021)
• Weekly COVID-19 Update: COVID-19 Vaccinations Update: The Rollout Begins; New PPE Vendors Added This Month; PPE Offers This Week; ASM21 – May 6–8, 2021; and more. (February 24, 2021)

Access to COVID-19 Repository: PDA Executive Directors, Corporate Member Presidents and select staff, and CDA Board Members have access to the CDA COVID-19 Repository via the CDA Board Resource Website.

The link to access the CDA COVID-19 Repository: https://boardresources.ca/covid/.

Log-in: Please use your existing CDA Board Resources login credentials to access the COVID-19 Repository.

If you have trouble logging in, or require a login for someone in your organization who would like access, please email Dean Smith, CDA Manager of Information Technology, dsmith@cda-adc.ca.

Share: To include your organization’s resources in the COVID-19 Repository, please email Zelda Burt, CDA Communications Manager, zburt@cda-adc.ca.

The CDA COVID-19 Response Team works diligently on a range of fronts to help minimize and mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on the dental profession. CDA is working to address scientific, clinical, economic and business-related matters impacting dentistry, including efforts to increase awareness about the mental health and wellness of dentists, their families and dental office employees during these challenging times. CDA will communicate regular updates as new information becomes available.