On May 6, 2019, Gov. Kate Brown signed Oregon House Bill 2220 into law, allowing dentists to prescribe and administer vaccines to patients of any age, starting in 2020. The law empowers dentists to help improve vaccination rates in Oregon, prevent the spread of disease, and further integrate oral health with physical and behavioral health, ultimately better serving patients and promoting public health. With its signing, Oregon became the first state in the US to permit dentists to vaccinate all patients, including young children, with many types of vaccines.

The SoD and Occupational (OCC) Health worked together to create an immunization program. This program was selected as the Honorable Mention recipient of the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS)– “Immunization Neighborhood” Adult Immunization Champion. Dr. Marucha and Alex Case of the SoD and Andrea Dayot and Misti Powell of OCC Health were the champions of this program.