On January 20, Governor Youngkin (R) declared that a limited state of emergency exists in the Commonwealth due to COVID-19 and issued Executive Order 11 to provide relief for hospitals and healthcare workers. The Order is effective until February 21, 2022. Among other provisions, the order allows healthcare providers, pharmacists, pharmacy interns, and pharmacy interns with active licenses in other states to practice in Virginia; increases the pharmacy technician ratio to 5:1 and exempts pharmacy technicians performing only administrative functions from the count. Additionally, it permits licensed practical nurses to administer COVID-19 vaccines without the supervision of a registered nurse or licensed medical practitioner. It also provides certain liability protections to providers who act in good faith to protect patients.
Following the release of the Executive Order, the Board of Pharmacy emailed a communication to licensees waiving restrictions around pharmacy central/remote processing and the utilization of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians located in other states.
Also in Virginia: The Department of Health has issued an updated Naloxone Standing Order signed by Dr. Colin Greene.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.