HB 394, which went into effect on March 19, expanded the authority of pharmacists and pharmacy interns to administer immunizations. The law allows trained pharmacists and pharmacy interns to:
Pharmacists and pharmacy interns must be able to document that they have met the training criteria for each immunization they will be administering. OPA has written a home-study CPE article, Immunizations for HPV, Varicella, Hib and Polio, which was approved by the board of pharmacy as a supplemental course for pharmacists and pharmacy interns whose previous training did not include these diseases and vaccines. The home-study can be purchased HERE.
Draft protocols for the vaccines have been updated to include the additional ages and vaccines. Protocols for the 2015-16 influenza season will be available after the ACIP recommendations are published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The protocol package is available for purchase at: Immunization Protocol Package Order Form
The Ohio State Board of Pharmacy has also released a guidance document, updated on May 14, 2015, so that pharmacies can be sure they are in compliance with the law. That document can be accessed here.