Vaccination policies for dentists and other dental professionals in Europe: a systematic report.

BACKGROUND

Dentists and other dental healthcare professionals (DHCP) are at increased risk for several vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). We studied vaccination policies for DHCP in Europe.

METHODS

The national dental associations and chambers of 31 European countries were invited to complete a structured form. The survey was conducted in 2023.

RESULTS

Vaccination policies for DHCP existed in all (21) participating countries. Vaccination policies against hepatitis B, COVID-19 and influenza existed in 20, 18, and 17 countries, respectively. Vaccination policies against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella existed in 8, 7, 7, and 7 countries, respectively, and against diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, and pertussis in 5, 5, 4, and 2 countries, respectively. Vaccination policies against hepatitis A existed in 5 countries, against meningococcus C, meningococcus A, C, W, Y, and meningococcus B in 1, 2, and 2 countries, respectively, and against tuberculosis and pneumococcus in 4 countries each. Thirteen countries had mandatory vaccination policies.

CONCLUSIONS

All participating countries had vaccination policies targeting DHCP, however there were significant differences in the number of vaccinations and the implementation frame (mandatory or voluntary vaccinations). Considering the recent outbreaks of VPDs in Europe, vaccination programs for DHCP should be evaluated and strengthened to promote safety in dental facilities.