Delta Dental of Massachusetts Praises Governor Baker For Allowing for Immediate Vaccination of Dentists
Thanking Governor Baker and his team for their announcement that all of Phase One – including dentists and members of dental teams - are now immediately eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Contact: media@deltadentalma.com
Boston, MA, [January 22, 2021] – Delta Dental of Massachusetts (DDMA), the largest provider of dental benefits in the state, today thanked Governor Baker and his team for their announcement that all of Phase One – including dentists and members of dental teams - are now immediately eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Last week, DDMA urged the Department of Public Health to begin offering the COVID-19 vaccine to dentists and members of the dental teams in a letter sent by President and CEO Dennis Leonard to Governor Baker and Secretary Sudders.
The following is a statement from Delta Dental of Massachusetts CEO and President Dennis Leonard:
“We want to thank Governor Baker for this is welcome news for the oral health community and the work to combat the coronavirus here in Massachusetts. Dentists are an essential part of our health care community and play a pivotal role in keeping people healthy throughout this crisis and beyond. This vaccine will provide another layer of protection for these essential workers. We have spoken to dentists that are willing to play a part in administering the vaccine to patients, so this step today will play an important part in ensuring we get more shots in arms as we seek to combat this insidious virus."
The dental community has been hit hard by COVID-19. That is why, to date, DDMA has provided more than $40 million in relief to dentists, employers and subscribers throughout the course of the pandemic, including:
• multiple insurance premiums credits for fully insured businesses and individual members;
• relief for DDMA network providers in the form of direct payments and a $2 million contribution to fully fund the Massachusetts Dental Society Foundation’s COVID-19 Recovery Fund; and
• charitable contributions to community organizations, regional COVID-19 funds and food banks.
About Delta Dental of Massachusetts
Delta Dental of Massachusetts (www.deltadentalma.com), the largest provider of dental benefits in the state, is a leader in innovative programs that improve the overall health of members, prevent oral disease and reduce health care costs for employers, groups and individuals. Headquartered in Charlestown, Mass., Delta Dental of Massachusetts, a member of the Delta Dental Plans Association (www.deltadental.com), covers more than 2 million people. Follow us on Twitter (@DeltaDentalofMA), Facebook (www.facebook.com/DeltaDentalMA), and Instagram (@deltadentalofma) and check out the monthly oral health calendar at www.keepahealthysmile.com.