Ohio legislators approve bill that changes pharmacy law governing immunizations
CINCINNATI — Ohio state legislators have approved a bill that gives pharmacists and pharmacy interns an expanded scope of practice where immunizations are concerned.
The bill — which was signed by Gov. John Kasich on Dec. 19, 2014, and goes into effect March 19, 2015 — lowers the age at which a pharmacist may administer certain immunizations and expands immunizations a pharmacy intern may administer.
According to the University of Cincinnati, it’s a change in Ohio law that students and faculty from the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy have lobbied for since 2013.
Under current law, pharmacists may give flu shots to individuals 14 years old or older and pharmacy interns may give flu shots to individuals 18 years old or older. Under the bill, both pharmacists and pharmacy interns may give flu shots to individuals starting at 7 years old. The bill also has provisions for pharmacists and pharmacy interns to administer other select immunizations to adults and minors.
According to the college’s director of experiential training, assistant professor Michael Doherty, the bill was born three years ago during the first Professionalism and Advocacy elective he taught. The students invited Sen. Eric Kearney to speak and were encouraged to take an active role in the laws that govern their profession.
While all 50 states allow pharmacists to immunize patients, restrictions vary from state to state.
Speaking as a student pharmacist, pharmacy intern and as the University of Cincinnati student representative to the Ohio Pharmacists Association Board of Trustees, PharmD candidate Erin Rogers testified to lawmakers in support of a new bill on three occasions and explained in her testimony how expanding the scope of practice for pharmacists and pharmacy interns would increase access to health care for Ohioans.
The Ohio Pharmacist Association was the main backer of the bill, which passed by a strong majority in both the Senate and the House.