New Jersey governor Chris Christie recently signed into law changes to existing legislation that would allow qualified pharmacists to administer influenza vaccines to children seven years of age or older.
The amended law permits a pharmacist to administer an influenza vaccine to a patient who is seven years of age or older provided certain requirements are met. Prior to administering vaccines to patients under 18 years of age parental or legal guardian’s permission must be obtained. For a patient who is under 12 years of age, a pharmacists must also obtain prescription from an authorized prescriber prior to the administration of the vaccine. Patients 12 years of age or older can be vaccinated for influenza without a prescription from an authorized prescriber.
The law has also been revised to allow a qualified pharmacist to administer drugs to patients 18 years of age or older under the following conditions: 1) pursuant to a prescription by an authorized prescriber for a vaccine and related emergency medications; 2) pursuant to an immunization program overseen by an authorized prescriber’s standing order for the vaccine and related emergency medications; or 3) in immunization programs and programs sponsored by governmental agencies that are not patient specific
The law is slated to take effect in May of this year. The New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy and the State Board of Medical Examiners, however, may take necessary administrative action prior to the implementation of this act.
If you have questions regarding the amended law, New Jersey pharmacy laws and regulations or have other healthcare law questions, please contact our office here.