IMMUNIZING PHARMACISTS’ AUTHORITY TO ADMINISTER COVID-19 AND FLU VACCINES TO PEDIATRIC PATIENTS. With flu and COVID vaccine season upon us, several pharmacists have reached out to Board staff about immunizing pharmacist authority to administer flu and COVID vaccine to pediatric patients. With all the recent changes to North Carolina law and PREP (Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness) Act declarations, it can be confusing. Here is the skinny on flu and COVID vaccine authority: 

  1. PREP Act declarations authorizing pharmacists to administer flu and COVID vaccine to patients aged 3 years and older are still in effect and will be until December 31, 2024. 
  1. State law now allows immunizing pharmacists to administer flu and COVID vaccine to patients aged 7 years and older pursuant to protocol and parental permission. State law allows immunizing pharmacists to administer any ACIP-recommended vaccine to patients 6 and older pursuant to prescription and parental permission. 
  1. So, for flu and COVID – immunizing pharmacists can administer to patients 3 years and older and can do that under their own authority under the PREP Act. Immunizing pharmacists can also use Dr. Tilson’s statewide standing order to do this for COVID vaccine (which typically makes billing and recordkeeping easier). These paths are available until December 31, 2024. 
  1. After December 31, 2024, immunizing pharmacists can administer flu and COVID vaccine pursuant to protocol, but only to patients aged 7 years or older, or pursuant to prescription for patients aged 6 years or older. 

For a comprehensive overview of immunizing pharmacist authority, see the FAQ guidance. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.