An amendment to the Declaration under the Public Health Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was made last week that will expand authority of state licensed pharmacies. Under the act these pharmacists will be allowed to order and administer vaccines to patients ages three to 18. According to HHS Secretary, Alex Azar, this will allow pharmacists “to practice at the top of their license.” The amendment will increase access to lifesaving childhood vaccines across the country and decrease the risk of twenty-seven vaccine-preventable diseases. This call was made after seeing a significant decrease in the number of routine vaccinations since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. HHS Assistant Secretary for Health, Brett P. Giroir says, “There is no substitute for a critically important well-child visit.” Adding this is imperative in preventing avoidable adverse health complications. Under this new authority, parents and guardians are asked to call ahead to their pharmacy to ensure the vaccine is on hand and whether or not their insurance will cover the vaccination if it is administered by a pharmacist.
