BSPD advises GDP members to discuss immunisation with patients
NewsPosted by: Dental Design 3rd August 2022
Whilst currently there is no confirmed UK case of polio, UKHSA have issued a statement recognising the potential severity. So BSPD believes that as part of ‘Making Every Contact Count’ (MECC) and our commitment to provide holistic care for our patients, that this is the ideal opportunity for dentists to play their role.
Dentists will be asking about patients’ vaccination status as part of the routine medical history. BSPD believes that this is the moment to ask specifically about polio immunisation and recommends Dental Check by 1 (DCby1), as an ideal time to remind parents and carers to ensure their children’s immunisation records are up to date (DCby1 is BSPD’s campaign to get children into a dentist’s chair before their first birthday).
The polio virus causes a potentially debilitating and, in rare cases, deadly disease. The detection of polio virus is the first known UK community transmission for nearly four decades. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are urging the public to ensure polio vaccines are up to date, especially parents of young children who may have missed an immunisation opportunity. However, UKHSA also reassured the public that “Vaccine-derived poliovirus is rare and the risk to the public overall is extremely low.”
Professor Sondos Albadri, BSPD President, said: “BSPD is keen to support MECC and it makes sense for our members to take this opportunity to spread the message about the importance of vaccination. We must not underestimate the danger of infectious diseases and would recommend paediatric dentists and GDPs seeing children – and their parents or carers – take this moment to discuss the polio virus vaccine, if they have not done so already. This is important advice for both child and adult. Good advice for patients includes checking a child’s Red Book or contacting their GP practice or health visitor to arrange an appointment. We know that vaccines are our best defence against potentially life changing or fatal viruses.”
No Comments
No comments yet.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
