PRESIDENT REPORT DENTAL INSIGHTS JUNE 2021

COVID-19 Risk

Although Australia has experienced a successful national group effort in controlling COVID-19, the pandemic has highlighted the important role state jurisdictions and organisations play in managing public health matters and keeping people safe.

The anxiety – inducing threat of another lockdown is of great concern with Victoria’s situation of the highly infectious variants and with this potentially being because of a South Australian hotel quarantine system failure.

Despite the positive signs amidst a record testing blitz with the Victorian outbreak, there remain hundreds of exposure sites visited by positive COVID cases that have contact tracers on edge and our state is just as vulnerable for such as risk. The 7-day lockdown in Melbourne is a reminder that members need to comply with South Australian directives and to continue to be vigilant in the workplace and continue to follow COVID Safe guidelines that apply at any one time. This includes the need to ensure you continue to comply with QR code requirements, and also screen all patients especially those who have travelled from Victoria since 20 May. The latest information is available with the following link; https://bit.ly/3yNyzPM. Please also refer to the Federal ADA Website – especially https://www.ada.org.au/Covid-19-Portal/Dental-Professionals for more information on the current protocols and associated procedures and  members are advised to regularly review the SA Health website for ongoing updates https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/

COVID-19 Vaccinations Update

Members have been in contact with the Branch seeking clarification with respect to the COVID-19 vaccination program and the ever-changing status of information with further developments. 

The media has highlighted the health concerns associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine, with information from the Australian Technical Advisory Group of Immunisation (ATAGI) released on 8 April regarding the risk of a rare blood clotting disorder (thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome). Although the risk of this adverse event is extremely low (one case for every 250,000 to 400,000 vaccinations) and with virtually zero community transmission of COVID-19 at the time, the ATAGI decided to recommend the Pfizer vaccine in preference to AstraZeneca for people under the age of 50 years who have not already received their first dose of AstraZeneca. This advice is based on the increased risk of complications from COVID-19 with increasing age balanced with the lower risk of blood clotting with increased age.

Contrary to the backtracked comments made by the Federal Health Minister Hunt sparking some online confusion and mix messaging with some people who were hesitant about the Astra-Zeneca vaccine, it was confirmed by Minister Hunt and the Australian Medical Association (AMA) that the advice is not to wait for the increase supply of mRna Pfizer and Moderna vaccines later this year. As can be seen with the Victorian outbreaks and the likelihood of further occurrences elsewhere in Australia, it is those people who are most vulnerable to the disease and who are unvaccinated who will be most at risk and affected.

The lack of urgency and sense of complacency among some Australians towards vaccination due to the Australia’s COVID-19 free status will also have contra-indications for international borders reopening. The AMA made a joint statement with the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges calling for people to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible with the benefits of vaccination far outweighing any risks.

The dental profession is a priority as Phase 1b of the Government National Rollout Strategy is underway.

Both the Astra-Zeneca and Pfizer vaccine have similar efficacy – about 97% – for severe disease and death. The joint statement reminded the public that the vaccination program has been extended to include all people who are 50 years and over and people in this age group are assessed as being at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 and death.

The Oxford – Astra-Zeneca Vaccine is being used in 139 countries and the Pfizer- BioNTech Vaccine in 90 countries. The evidence from the hundreds of millions of doses delivered in these countries is that both are protecting people from serious illness and hospitalisation and helping to stop the spread of COVID-19. Furthermore, there is no medical condition that increases your risk of this extremely rare clotting disorder associated with Astra-Zeneca vaccine. It is reassuring also that practitioners have become very good at recognising and in treating this form of clotting.

The ADA Federal body are continuing to meet regularly with the government and are advocating on behalf of all dental practitioners and staff to ensure the vaccination program for Phase 1b and communicate any updates on this matter to members as further developments arise.

 For more information about the safety of Astra-Zeneca vaccine, the side effects and what to do should you have had your first dose, members should read the vaccination FAQs portal. To learn more visit www.ada.org.au/Vaccination-FAQs. Should members have specific concerns about vaccination and risk, you are encouraged to discuss this with your medical practitioner or physician. Vaccinations are a ‘game-changer’ that will ultimately help Australians assert some degree of control over the pandemic.

Dentistry and Sustainability

The Environmental and Sustainability Committee has met once again for the first time this year after its inaugural meeting late 2020 and is making great strides in its role and function.

We are  the only Branch in the nation that has a dedicated group focusing on one of the major pillars of the national and state strategic plan regarding sustainability - a framework to reflect about our actions and how they impact the world in the future – environmental value, social value, and economic value.

Whilst still in the early stages, the members of the committee discussed the definition of what it means to be an environmentally minded and sustainable dentist and agreed with the following;

“An environmentally friendly and sustainable dentist aims to practice evidence- based safe and high-quality dentistry while minimising pollution, reducing waste, and incorporating technology to a neutral ecological and carbon footprint. This includes management across ADA and all stakeholders.

(as also noted in ADA policy statement 6.21): manufacturers, distributors, dental equipment technicians, dentists and staff, waste collectors and processors.”

In conjunction with the ADA Policy Statement 6.21, the members of the Committee have identified 5 key areas as:

1. Energy and waste usage of the practice
2. Purchase and procurement
3. Travel
4.  Waste recycling and reusing of products
5.  Living Environment

The move to an environmentally and sustainable dental practice may be achieved by education and learning, the development of a community of like-minded dentists, lobbying and research.

South Australia is well-placed to lead the way nationally on matters relating to dentistry and sustainability. Our Branch may lead by example and show that authenticity is the key to successful sustainable dentistry- keeping it real.

Sustainable dentistry is a whole philosophy, and it means more than being green and minimising your environmental impact and being climate conscious but also being respectful of people- that means taking care of the natural environment as well as the working environment of dental practice including our patients, the team and oneself, the Dentist.

Cut your waste, not your standards – while sustainability efforts may begin with good ecological practice, we can still maintain patient safety and the delivery of services with respect to oral health while championing better sustainability outcomes.

Watch this space as there will be more to come from this passionate and dynamic group of Committee members.

Membership Renewals 2021/22

Please be reminded that Membership Renewals for 2021/22 will be issued this month. As mentioned in previous reports we value the support, confidence, and feedback of our members and this is reflected in the newly formed business plan which includes a review of the resources and offerings as part of our member services focus. South Australia is also currently working with the other State and Territory Branches to develop a Federal strategic plan to future proof the ADA.

 It is important that the Branch membership continues to grow so that we are able to maintain our strong position to advocate on behalf of our profession and continue to prosper.  The pandemic certainly has reinforced the strength of the Branch’s standing within the profession, with the government and in the broader community.

With half of our membership in the under 45-year age group, we understand the importance of engaging with and ensuring the business plan focuses on reviewing, enhancing and tailoring its offerings in terms of services and resources to this group- our future.

These Members are not only the future of the profession, but also future leaders of dentistry and our Association and efforts continue to be made to connect with this group through our support and collaboration within house groups such as the ADASA Recent Graduates Committee (RGC) and others through partnerships including the Adelaide University Dental Students Society (AUDSS) and the University of Adelaide Faculty of Dentistry.

Opportunities to engage also include events such as my recent address as Guest speaker at the University of Adelaide Graduation Ceremony for the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences on 5 May at Bonython Hall with the Vice Chancellor Mr David Hill and our well-attended Mentorship Meet and Greet evening held on 27 May at the Adelaide University Boat Shed with Dr Alex Lam who lectured on Conscious Sedation in dental practice. These and our other initiatives such as the ‘Declaration Ceremony’ and ‘Welcome to the  Profession Seminar’ held late in the year are memorable and valued occasions where we lead in matters relating to graduates and the younger dentist cohort.  

I encourage members to speak to their non-member colleagues young or older regarding the benefits and value of our membership and to encourage them to join our professional association.