Two conference committee reports, HB 1323, and SB 672, that would make pharmacists’ and technicians’ immunization and testing authority permanent have been approved by the General Assembly and are Governor Youngkin’s desk. The bills would also allow pharmacists to prescribe tobacco cessation medications, adding to the current list of therapies pharmacists can initiate under a Board of Pharmacy protocol. The immunization provisions would be effective upon the expiration of the PREP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) Act declarations. Gov. Youngkin (R) has until midnight on April 11 to approve the bills or let them become law without his signature. NACDS and VACDS (Virginia Association of Chain Drug Stores) were actively involved in the drafting and passage of these bills as part of our Scope of Practice Campaign. We will be reaching out to Gov. Youngkin to urge him to sign these bills and will provide inform
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.