PRINTER'S NO. 3252
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2679
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY HICKERNELL, BURNS, CAUSER, FEE, HILL-EVANS,
HOHENSTEIN, LONGIETTI, MILLARD AND POLINCHOCK, JUNE 15, 2022
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, JUNE 15, 2022
AN ACT
Amending the act of September 27, 1961 (P.L.1700, No.699),
entitled "An act relating to the regulation of the practice
of pharmacy, including the sales, use and distribution of
drugs and devices at retail; and amending, revising,
consolidating and repealing certain laws relating thereto,"
further providing for authority to administer injectable
medications, biologicals and immunizations; and abrogating
inconsistent regulations.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 9.2(a) introductory paragraph and (5) and
(b) of the act of September 27, 1961 (P.L.1700, No.699), known
as the Pharmacy Act, are amended and the section is amended by
adding subsections to read:
Section 9.2. Authority to Administer Injectable Medications,
Biologicals and Immunizations.--(a) The board shall by
regulation establish education and training standards and
practice guidelines pursuant to which pharmacists shall be
authorized to administer injectable medications, biologicals and
immunizations to persons who are more than eighteen years of age
and influenza and COVID-19 immunizations by injectable or
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needle-free delivery methods to persons [nine] five years of age
and older. Such standards and guidelines shall include, but not
be limited to, the following:
* * *
(5) For individuals under eighteen years of age, that
parental consent be obtained prior to administration.
Administration of influenza and COVID-19 immunizations by
injectable or needle-free delivery methods shall be in
accordance with the immunization schedule established by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
* * *
(b) [A] Except as provided under subsection (e), a
pharmacist's authority to administer injectable medications,
biologicals and immunizations shall not be delegated to any
other person. A pharmacy intern who has completed a course of
education and training which meets the requirements of
subsection (a)(1) and (2) may administer injectable medications,
biologicals and immunizations to persons who are more than
eighteen years of age and influenza and COVID-19 immunizations
by injectable or needle-free delivery methods to persons [nine]
five years of age and older only under the direct, immediate and
personal supervision of a pharmacist holding the authority to
administer injectable medications, biologicals and immunizations
or a physician, physician assistant or certified registered
nurse practitioner.
(c) A supervising pharmacist shall report the
administration of immunizations under this section to the
immunization registry maintained by the Department of Health
within seventy-two hours of immunization administration and to
the individual's primary care provider in accordance with
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subsection (a)(7). Nothing in this subsection shall be construed
to prohibit a supervising pharmacist from delegating the
reporting of immunization administration to a pharmacy intern.
(d) A pharmacist or pharmacy intern who administers an
influenza or COVID-19 immunization to an individual under
eighteen years of age shall inform the parent or adult caregiver
of the importance of a well-child visit with a pediatrician or
other licensed primary care provider and refer the patient as
appropriate.
(e) A pharmacist who holds the authority to administer
injectable medications, biologicals and immunizations may
delegate the authority to administer influenza and COVID-19
immunizations to a certified registered nurse practitioner,
physician assistant, registered nurse or licensed practical
nurse.
Section 2. The provisions of 49 Pa. Code ยงยง 27.12(c)(1) and
27.403(b) are abrogated insofar as they are inconsistent with
the amendment or addition of section 9.2(a) introductory
paragraph and (5), (b), (c) and (d) of the act.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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