LEGAL DISCLAIMER: THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. NEITHER THE GDA NOR THE ADA ENDORSES THIS STUDY OR OTHERWISE RECOMMENDS/REQUIRES THAT MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN THE CLINICAL TRIALS. PARTICIPATION IN THE STUDY IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. 

Clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccine currently under development by Moderna are currently underway in Georgia. Due to their high occupational exposure risk, volunteers from the dental profession are being asked to participate in the study, which is strictly voluntary in nature. For more details on the study and to register as a participant, please visit: https://www.coronaviruspreventionnetwork.org/.

Moderna’s mRNA-1273 vaccine, The COVE Study^™  

The mRNA-1273 vaccine is being developed to prevent COVID-19. The purpose of this study is to test Moderna’s vaccine candidate to see if it can prevent illness if people are exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus in their everyday lives. The mRNA-1273 vaccine is not made from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is made from messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), a genetic code that tells cells how to make protein, which helps the body’s immune system make antibodies to fight the virus. The vaccine cannot cause infection or make someone sick with COVID-19.

On Friday, August 14, the Georgia Board of Dentistry held its monthly meeting via conference call.  Regarding applicants for dental licensure who have been unable to take CRDTS due to COVID-19, the Georgia Board of Dentistry (the “BOD”) has been actively engaged in trying to assist recent graduates and dentists who have relocated or wish to return to Georgia.  In response to concerns received from the GDA and the public, and in conjunction with an Executive Order issued by Gov. Kemp on August 15, the BOD established 2 temporary pathways for licensure, which are as follows: 

• For 2020 Graduates, please view this announcement on the Georgia Board of Dentistry’s website:https://gbd.georgia.gov/press-releases/2020-08-18/2020-new-grad-temp-guidelines 

• For other dentists:To aid the non-2020 grads, the BOD is currently reviewing licensure applications via its rule variance petition process*. At its August 14 conference call, the BOD decided to review such petitions on a case-by-case basis as long as:  
  • The applicant has been unable to take CRDTS due to COVID-19;
  • The applicant has previously taken and successfully negotiated adental clinical licensure exam involving a live patient; and
  • The applicant agrees to take and successfully negotiate CRDTS or another BOD approved exam once such exams are administered again.

*There may be additional criteria and stipulations included in the BOD’s rule variance petition process, so the GDA strongly recommends contacting the BOD to obtain more information.  To email the BOD’s Executive Director, Eric Lacefield, please go here.  The phone number for the BOD is: (404) 651-8000.