The West Virginia Oral Health Coalition has drafted legislation that would allow dentists and dental hygienists with local anesthetic permits to administer the HPV vaccine, West Virginia Watch reported. Kentucky, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Oregon already allow dental providers to give the vaccine.
The proposal follows a pilot project in rural Pocahontas County, where a dental hygienist counseled 34 unvaccinated, age-eligible patients about HPV during routine visits. Ten agreed to vaccination, but none received it, as getting the shot required a separate trip to a medical clinic. In 2025, 57% of West Virginia 13- to 16-year-olds were up to date on their HPV vaccinations compared with 63% across the U.S.
The bill has no legislative sponsors yet. The state’s 2027 session begins in January. Passage would require changes to state code and new rules from the West Virginia Board of Dentistry, which supports the change in a position statement.
