The National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the American Pharmacists Association, and the National Community Pharmacists Association praised the Department of Health and Human Services for taking action to increase pharmacists' role in providing childhood vaccinations.
HHS issued a third amendment to the Declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, to increase access to life-saving childhood vaccines and decrease the risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks as children across the United States return to daycare, preschool and school.
The amendment authorizes state-licensed pharmacists (and pharmacy interns acting under their supervision to administer vaccines if the pharmacy intern is licensed or registered by his or her state board of pharmacy) to order and administer vaccines to individuals ages three through 18 years, subject to several requirements.
“Today’s action means easier access to lifesaving vaccines for our children, as we seek to ensure immunization rates remain high during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. “The Trump Administration has worked to allow pharmacists — alongside all of America’s heroic healthcare workers — to practice at the top of their license, empowering the public with more options to protect their health and well-being.”
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