THE PHARMACY TECHNICIAN ROLE REVOLUTIONIZED
As the role of the pharmacist in the community setting continues to progress from dispensing tasks to clinical services, the responsibility of the pharmacy technician is evolving as well. In many states, pharmacy technicians have stepped into more of a clinical role by performing tasks previously completed by pharmacists. One recent example includes the physical administration of an immunization. The idea of pharmacy technicians providing immunization duties was first introduced in 2017. Idaho, through an administrative law, became the first state to allow pharmacy technicians to give immunizations in the United States, with Rhode Island and Utah following soon after. Prior to the new HHS guidance authorization, a total of six states permitted pharmacy technicians to immunize, including Idaho, Rhode Island, Utah, Michigan, Washington, and Nevada. Once these states started to receive positive feedback on this new practice, more and more states started to actively discuss allowing technicians to immunize. However, most states are still not even considering implementing this innovative idea. Through the March 2020 Secretary of Health and Human Services Declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act, qualified pharmacy technicians have been authorized to administer FDA-authorized or FDA-licensed COVID-19 vaccines to persons ages 3 or older and to administer FDA-authorized or FDA- licensed ACIP-recommended vaccines to persons ages 3-18 according to ACIP’s standard immunization schedule. By doing so, such qualified pharmacy technicians are classified as a “covered person” under the PREP Act and may receive immunity under the PREP Act with respect to all claims for loss caused by, arising out of, relating to, or resulting from, the administration or use of such vaccines. To be considered a “qualified pharmacy technician,” pharmacy technicians working in states with licensure and/or registration requirements must be licensed and/or registered in accordance with state requirements; pharmacy technicians working in states without licensure and/or registration requirements must have a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) certification from either the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or National Healthcare Association. The new declaration under the PREP Act also warrants “qualified pharmacy technicians” to satisfy the following requirements when administering FDA-authorized or FDA-licensed COVID-19 vaccines to persons ages three through 18: • The vaccination must be ordered by the supervising qualified pharmacist. • The supervising qualified pharmacist must be readily and immediately available to the immunizing qualified pharmacy technicians. • The vaccine must be FDA-authorized or FDA-licensed. • In the case of a COVID-19 vaccine, the vaccination must be ordered and administered according to ACIP’s COVID-19 vaccine recommendation(s). • In the case of a childhood vaccine, the vaccination must be ordered and administered according to ACIP’s standard immunization schedule. • The qualified pharmacy technician must complete a practical training program that is approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). This training program must include hands-on injection technique and the recognition and treatment of emergency reactions to vaccines. • The qualified pharmacy technician must have a current certificate in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation. • The qualified pharmacy technician must complete a minimum of
two hours of ACPE-approved, immunization-related continuing pharmacy education during the relevant State licensing period(s). • The supervising qualified pharmacist must comply with recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the jurisdiction in which he or she administers vaccines, including informing the patient’s primary care provider when available and submitting the required immunization information to the state or local immunization information system (vaccine registry). • The supervising qualified pharmacist is responsible for complying with requirements related to reporting adverse events. • The supervising qualified pharmacist must review the vaccine registry or other vaccination records prior to ordering the vaccination to be administered by the qualified pharmacy technician. • The qualified pharmacy technician must, if the patient is 18 years of age or younger, inform the patient and the adult caregiver accompanying the patient of the importance of a well-child visit with a pediatrician or other licensed primary-care provider and refer patients as appropriate. • The supervising qualified pharmacist must comply with any applicable requirements (or conditions of use) as set forth in the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccination provider agreement and any other federal requirements that apply to the administration of COVID-19 vaccine(s). This new authorization preempts any state and local law that prohibits or effectively prohibits those who satisfy these requirements from administering COVID-19 or routine childhood vaccines. It does not, however, preempt state and local laws that permit additional individuals to administer COVID-19 or routine childhood vaccines to additional persons. With the new authorization, pharmacy technicians have been afforded the privilege of advancing the profession, while making a significant impact on public health. Given the need for additional help with administering the new COVID-19 vaccine, on top of the already heavily administered influenza vaccine, it was deemed warranted to allow pharmacy technicians across the nation the opportunity to take on an active role in resolving the pandemic, as well as providing beneficial aspects to other healthcare professionals.
CPhT CONNECT www.pharmacy technician.org
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