Volume 8 • 2021 • Issue 6

DENTAL DIGEST I n October, HEAL, Organizations for Health Action, a non-partisan coalition of 40 national health organizations, released a position statement on mandating COVID-19 vaccination of health care workers. The Canadian Dental Association was a signatory on the HEAL statement. The statement reads in part: “HEAL asserts its support to maximize vaccination rates, including evidence-based public education, and encouragement for provincial/territorial governments mandating vaccination of all health care professionals against COVID-19. Mandatory vaccination of all health care professionals is an important measure to protect patients, communities, the health workforce and the capacity of the health care systems.” Created in 1991, HEAL represents more than 650,000 providers (and consumers) of health care and is dedicated HEAL Statement on MandatoryVaccination CDA President-Elect to Receive Elmer S. Best Award D r. Lynn Tomkins, CDA president-elect, will receive the 2022 Pierre Fauchard Academy (PFA) Elmer S. Best Award. The Elmer S. Best Memorial Award, named in memory of the founder of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, was established by the PFA in 1962. It is awarded annually to a member of the dental profession from outside the United States who has made distinguished contributions of international significance to dentistry. Dr. Tomkins of Toronto will be the first female dentist to receive this award. The awardwill be presented to Dr. Tomkins at the next PFA in‑person International Award Ceremony. 2021 Federal Election: What Do the Results Mean for Dentists? M ichel Breau, Head of Advocacy &Governance at CDA, gave a brief overview of the results of the 44th federal election held on September 20, and he explained what the results mean for Canadian dentists. Some key takeaways include: • CDA will continue to monitor and encourage the Liberal government tomovequicklywith its proposal to allow the immediate expensing of capital costs to help offset investments many dental offices have made to adapt to pandemic health protocols. • A commitment to ventilation improvement tax credits for small businesses would benefit many dental offices. CDA will continue to encourage the government to provide clarity and move quickly on this issue. The HEAL statement is available at: bit.ly/3BjaL63 See: bit.ly/30WoRhh and bit.ly/3BFwUfh See: bit.ly/3mkCS0I to improving the health of Canadians and the quality of care they receive. Dr. Lynn Tomkins 23 Issue 6 | 2021 |