A new report from CDC warns that there is a growing threat of antibiotic-resistant strains of infectious diseases. 

Effective July 1, 2013, Indiana pharmacists will be authorized to administer additional immunizations under a protocol approved by a physician.

Pharmacists in Pennsylvania would be granted authority to vaccinate patients above the age of seven with a parent’s consent under two bills being considered by the Pennsylvania General Assembly. 

Pharmacists’ authority to vaccinate may be expanded in Wyoming under a bill that would allow pharmacists to prescribe and administer immunizations for individuals age seven and older.

Responding to epidemic proportions of flu in New York State, Governor Andrew Cuomo has passed emergency orders expanding pharmacists’ authority to vaccinate individuals against the illness. 

FDA has approved two new flu vaccines that, instead of using eggs to grow the influenza virus, use cell lines from either a mammal or insects.

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) has launched a National Vaccine Error Reporting Program (VERP) that allows health care providers to confidentially report vaccine administration errors and near misses.

Aimed to improve health care access for children in Illinois, a new law (SB 3513) will authorize pharmacists to administer influenza and Tdap vaccinations to children age 10 and older with a doctor’s prescription. Signed by Governor Pat Quinn on...

On August 13, 2012, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that the 2012-2013 influenza vaccine formulation has been approved. Additional details and links to information about influenza vaccine availability and related topics are included in an FDA news release. As...

FDA has released a communication recommending that health care providers use a sterile needle and syringe to administer inactivated influenza vaccines. The communication was released in response to questions regarding the use of jet injector devices to administer inactivated influenza...

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that everyone 6 months of age and older should receive a yearly flu vaccine and the agency has updated flu vaccination information for consumers on the CDC Web site. The National Foundation...

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it has approved the 2011-2012 influenza vaccine formulation for all six manufacturers licensed to produce and distribute influenza vaccine for the United States. The vaccine formulation protects against the three virus strains that...

The Rhode Island Senate passed a bill that would authorize pharmacists to administer vaccinations to children between the ages of nine and 18. As stated in a Rhode Island news release, pharmacists in the state are currently allowed to immunize...

Originally Published in the February 2011 South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation –Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Act No. 224, enacted by the South Carolina General Assembly, authorizes pharmacists to administer the influenza vaccine to individuals 18 years and...

Published in the December 2009 Vermont Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Board has received several inquiries about what training is necessary for pharmacists to give immunizations. Read Board Rule 9.34 carefully. In addition to an accredited training course on immunizations,...

Reprinted from the October 2009 Minnesota Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. A large number of bills related to the profession of pharmacy or to pharmaceutical manufacturers were introduced this past session. Descriptions of some of the provisions that were enacted into...

Published in the August 2009 Ohio State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Also on June 21, 2009, revised rules 4729-5-36 (course requirements in the administration of immunizations) and 4729-5-37 (protocols for the administration of immunizations) and new rule 4729-5-38 (immunization administration)...

Published in the July 2009 Washington State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Washington’s universal childhood vaccine purchase program changes July 1, 2009. This is due to budget cuts in the state 2009-2011 biennium. The budget directs the department to discontinue state...

Reprinted from the July 2008 North Carolina Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. Rule .2507 governing pharmacist-administered vaccines was amended effective February 1, 2008, to allow pharmacists to administer the zoster vaccine (presently marketed under the name Zostavax®). As with the pneumococcal...

Reprinted from the July 2008 Nevada State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. As pharmacists increase their role within the medical community by providing immunizations, it is important that they recognize the reasoning behind reporting. The goal is that each patient has...

Published in the January 2008 Washington State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter As of July 1, 2007, a new law went into effect that prohibits pregnant women and children under three years of age from getting vaccines with a mercury (thimerosal)...

Published in the November 2007 Missouri Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Effective August 28, 2007, legislation passed by the Missouri General Assembly and signed into law by the governor gave pharmacists the statutory authority to administer viral influenza vaccinations and provide...

Published in the November 2007 Ohio State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter By the time this Newsletter arrives, the Board should have new rules that have become effective. The full text of these rules can be found on the Board’s Web...

Reprinted from the October 2007 North Carolina Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. North Carolina Board of Pharmacy staff has received numerous questions about pharmacist administration of Zostavax®. Many pharmacists have been asked by physicians around the state to administer this vaccine...

Published in the August 2007 Indiana Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Effective July 1, 2007, a pharmacist in a community setting may administer influenza immunization shots via a protocol agreement from an Indiana licensed physician. All other types of immunizations may...

Published in the August 2007 Ohio State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Ohio General Assembly has passed, and the governor has signed, some bills that will have an impact on the practice of pharmacy in Ohio. In addition, the General...

Published in the July 2007 South Dakota State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Board of Pharmacy has approved only those pharmacists certified to administer the influenza vaccine to administer Zostavax® to patients 60 years and older if the patient has...

Published in the May 2007 Missouri Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The “practice of pharmacy” as defined in Section 338.010, RSMo, does not give a pharmacist the authority to administer a medication to a patient. Pharmacists that are administering drugs, including...