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Dental providers: Encourage your patients to stay current with vaccines
July 31, 2020

Dentists who care for our pediatric members.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health have both reported alarming drops in vaccination rates over the last few months. Some parents have concerns about bringing their children into the medical office during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the importance of keeping vaccines current is critical.

We are asking you to please encourage your dental patients to keep their vaccinations up-to-date.

Dr. Robert Lewando, DDS, Director of Dental Operations, notes that "Dentists play an important role in maintaining their patients’ overall health. Just as dentists have helped encourage parents to get the HPV vaccine for their children, directing the parents to consult their child’s medical office about staying current on all of their vaccinations can significantly help our members."

Please see the resources below that you may share with your patients.

How we're reminding members to stay on their vaccination schedule

We want you to know that we’re encouraging our members—your patients—to reach out to their medical provider if they aren’t current with their vaccines. In late July, we’re sending emails and texts to the parents or guardians of the following members, with these recommendations:

Age group Should receive
Children
  • Chicken pox (VZV) (1)
  • Hemophilus influenza type B (HiB) (3)
  • Hepatitis A (HepA) (1)
  • Hepatitis B (HepB) (3)
  • Influenza (flu) (2)
  • Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) (1)
  • Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) (4)
  • Polio (IPV) (3)
  • Rotavirus (RV) (2 or 3)
  • Tetanus and acellular pertussis (Dtap)

All should be received by the second birthday.
Adolescents
  • Meningococcal serogroups (age 11-13)
  • Tdap (age 10-13)
  • HPV (age 9-13)
Sample email messages
Childhood Adolescent
   

We also send these emails in Spanish.

As always, thank you for the care you give your patients, our members.

Resources

 HPV fact sheet for members (English)
 HPV fact sheet for members (Spanish)
 HPV vaccination tips (webinar slides)
CDC vaccines & immunizations
Why it's important for kids to get vaccinated now (Coverage article for members)
For FEP specific information, visit fepblue.org

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