The Board of Pharmacy has published final emergency regulations authorizing pharmacists to initiate treatment with certain drugs, devices, controlled paraphernalia, and other OTC supplies and equipment for adult patients became effective December 22, 2021. Pharmacists may now utilize the new statewide protocols to initiate treatment for vaccines, TB, HIV PeP and PrEP, and over-the counter medications when they decrease a patient’s out-of-pocket expenses. The regulations are a result of legislation that members, allies and NACDS worked on in the 2021 legislative session. 

Also in Virginia: The Department of Health has published a Revised COVID-19 Vaccine Standing Order has been updated and posted here. Also refer to the revised Summary of Legal Authorities for Pharmacists to Administer COVID-19 Vaccine. The updates to the Standing Order include: 

Allowing any COVID-19 vaccine booster to be administered at an interval of 5 months, rather than 6 months, after completion of the Pfizer-BioNTech primary series (any COVID-19 vaccine booster remains recommended 6 months after a Moderna vaccine primary series and 2 months after Johnson & Johnson vaccine) 

1. Children 12-17 years old are recommended to receive a Pfizer booster vaccine 5 months following their primary series
2. Children 5-11 years old who are immunocompromised are recommended to receive a 3rd Pfizer dose as part of their primary series 28 days after 2nd dose

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has issued an amended standing order for COVID vaccines that includes 5 to 11-year-old patients. Additionally, they have developed a flowchart to help with decision making on booster shot dose amount. Lastly, they announced that ordering the 5-11 Pfizer vaccine is now LIVE in VaxMaX. Ordering for this week will close November 8, and orders will begin to be delivered starting November 12. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

The Board of Pharmacy’s Regulation Committee will meet on November 4 at 9:00 a.m. to consider amendments to Chapter 20, Section 25 (Unprofessional Conduct). These amendments address workforce issues, e.g., breaks and staffing. For more details, please see the proposed language in the agenda.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

The Board of Pharmacy held a workgroup on September 23 to consider making recommendations to the Legislature on passing legislation that would expand pharmacy technician duties in the 2022 session. The workgroup was mandated by HB 1304 of 2020. This law will require pharmacy technicians to be certified by July 2022. According the draft minutes the workgroup took the following actions:

• Motion to recommend the elimination tech ratio failed; subsequent motion to not recommend the elimination of tech ratio passed 6-2
• Motion to recommend permanently authorize nationally certified techs to administer vaccines in accordance with PREP Act passed 7-1
• BOP Executive Director clarifies that pharmacists and technicians under supervision are currently authorized to perform CLIA-waived testing
• Motion that the BOP further study, rather than recommend, Technician Product Verification passed unanimously
• Motion passed unanimously to recommend that pharmacy technicians be authorized to clarify number of refills and drug quantity for new prescriptions or refills (Sch. VI)
• Motion to allow techs to accept new prescriptions failed 6-2
• Motion passed unanimously to recommend allowing a nationally certified technician to electronically transfer a Schedule VI refill that is not an “on hold” prescription when authorized by Pharmacist in Charge.
• Board voted unanimously that the BOP clarify regulations, if needed, to allow pharmacy technicians to take medication histories independently to include drug name, dosage and frequency.  It was the opinion of Board staff that this is currently authorized.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

NACDS reminds members that beginning January 1, 2022, all health care providers must report all vaccinations to the Virginia Immunization Information System (VIIS), pursuant to Chapter 211 of the 2021 Special Session. If you are not already actively submitting immunization administration data to VIIS please contact VIISInfo@vdh.virginia.gov and a VIIS Trainer will contact, you.

Also in Virginia, the Department of Health (VDH) recently partnered with a platform to allow residents to show proof of vaccination via a QR code, rather than a paper vaccination card. VDH encourages pharmacies to become familiar with this platform as patients may show vaccination records this way. More information about this new platform can be found here.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

The Board of Pharmacy issued the following statement via email to licensees yesterday clarifying that only registered pharmacy technicians are authorized to administer vaccines:  

The Virginia Board of Pharmacy has received several inquiries regarding the ability to use pharmacy technician trainees to administer vaccines to patients.   We wish to remind the pharmacy community that to be considered a “qualified pharmacy technician” as indicated on page 2 of the Department of Health and Human Services Guidance issued October 20, 2020, an individual authorized to administer vaccines must be registered with the Board as a pharmacy technician. Registration with the Board as a pharmacy technician trainee does not meet the requirement to be considered a “qualified pharmacy technician”.     

Also in Virginia, Alexis Page, PharmD, BCACP, has been appointed the Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) COVID-19 Pharmacy Coordinator, under the VDH Vaccine Unit. In addition to her education, Dr. Page’s background includes a PGY1 Community Based Pharmacy Residency and a Community Based Pharmacy Leadership and Management Fellowship with Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy.  She is also Certified in Ambulatory Care Pharmacy (BCACP). Just prior to joining VDH she was the Pharmacy Manager and Residency Coordinator at Kroger and VCU.  NACDS and VACDS have been working with Dr. Page in Virginia and she welcomes you to reach out to her. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

The Department of Health has issued an updated standing order that authorizes the additional COVID-19 dose that has been recommended for immunocompromised individuals.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

NACDS has been asked to extend an invitation to our members from Governor Ralph Northam (D) and the Department of Health to exclusive online conversation with Dr. Anthony Fauci and other distinguished panelists on August 3 from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm EDT. The online event is meant to help empower healthcare providers to encourage their patients to get vaccinated against COVID-19. All healthcare providers are invited.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

The Board of Pharmacy has posted the agenda for the June 4 meeting. The BOP will be reviewing legislation passed by the General Assembly in the 2021 session including HB 2079 (initiation of treatment, dispensing of supplies and devices; HIV treatment; test & treat for CLIA-waived tests including flu and strep; tobacco cessation prescribing). A stakeholders’ workgroup will be convened to make recommendations on CLIA test and treat to the Joint Commission on Health Care due November 1, 2021. Additionally, there will be another workgroup tasked with making recommendations on expansion pharmacy technicians’ duties as a result of the passage of HB 1304 of 2020 with a report also due November. 1. Further detail is in the agenda packet.  NACDS and VACDS expect to participate in both stakeholder workgroups.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.