Can Pharmacy Techs Administer Vaccines?
One particular point that might not be clear is: can pharmacy techs give vaccines? The answer varies because it involves both state and federal laws. The federal government recently expanded the job description of pharmacy techs during emergencies.
Since then, many states have adopted the option of giving techs the additional responsibility of administering vaccines, but not all of them have. If you are looking to go down this career path, let’s dive into this complex issue so that you know what to expect from your job.
Current Guidelines for Pharmacy Techs Administering Vaccines
Can pharmacy techs give vaccines? In the majority of states, the answer is yes. Keep in mind, however, that most states require that a pharmacist supervise the process.
The states that don’t allow pharmacy techs to give vaccines are:
- Texas
- Mississippi
- Michigan
- Indiana
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
The federal government allows for temporary permissions during emergencies, such as during COVID-19. It did this via the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, which gave pharmacy techs the chance to administer vaccinations, opening the door to states making this a permanent change.
Allowing pharmacy techs to administer vaccines during emergencies allows more people to receive assistance without worrying about long lines or having to travel to other locations. It’s also important during flu season, as the demand for vaccinations can spike and leave some pharmacies struggling.
Not all pharmacy techs can administer vaccinations, however. In most states, you need to have the right certification and training to do so.
Training and Certification Requirements for Administering Vaccines
To be able to administer vaccinations in states that allow for this, pharmacy techs have to obtain immunization administration certification. They can do so via the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.
Immunization administration certification ensures that the tech knows about the proper storage and management of vaccine doses and supplies and that they know how immunization schedules work.
The program teaches techs how to safely administer vaccines, including what personal protection equipment is necessary for patients and providers during the process.
With this training, you learn supply selection, including knowing the right needle length to choose, along with the various ways to offer vaccines. The program will teach you how to manage adverse reactions and other emergencies.
Another option you have is to get certification from the National Pharmacy Technician Association. This certification offers hands-on training. It tends to be a fast program with training similar to what you receive in the PTCB option.
To administer vaccines, pharmacy techs must also have CPR certification, and they must be licensed by the appropriate state board.
Scope of Vaccines Administered by Pharmacy Technicians
When trying to find the answer to the question, “Can pharmacy techs give vaccines?” keep in mind that pharmacy technicians aren’t allowed to administer all vaccines. The ones that the federal government allowed during the pandemic and continues to allow now are the influenza vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine.
Pharmacy techs are also allowed to offer childhood vaccines to children between the ages of three and 18. They must follow the standard administration schedule. They’re not allowed to do anything but prepare the vaccination and administer it, and in many states, a licensed pharmacist must be present.
How Can RxCe Help You With Your Pharmacy Tech Career?
At RxCe, we can help you achieve your career goals. We provide affordable CE courses to ensure that you meet your certification needs. Alongside a variety of options, we provide immunization CE courses to help you take the next step forward in your career.
To have further responsibilities and be able to help patients even more, consider continuing education courses. With RxCe, your credits are immediately reported to the CPE monitor so that there are no delays and no complications.
