NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. – A week after the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it would authorize state certified pharmacists in all 50 states to administer vaccinations to children ages three and up, Florida pharmacists await guidance on how to move forward.
What You Need To Know
- HHS authorizing state-certified pharmacists nationwide to provide childhood vaccinations
- Florida Pharmacy Association says it’s awaiting information from the state about moving forward
- Change is meant to increase access following a decrease in routine immunizations reported by CDC
“We believe that the statement from the health and human services department was fairly clear in trying to extend access to services by our state’s community pharmacists. We think that we should be able to do this. However, it’s not clear because of Florida’s current law,” Florda Pharmacy Association Executive Vice President and CEO Michael Jackson said.
On August 19, HHS issued the amendment to the Declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act. It cited a May report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that found routine childhood vaccinations were down as a result of COVID-19.
HHS called this a public health threat and said the move to authorize pharmacists is meant to increase access to care as children head back to school. According to the amendment, “few states restrict pharmacist-administered vaccinations to only adults.”
Jackson said Florida is one of them.
“Our pharmacists are highly trained to do these kinds of services, and a lot of their education and training includes the administration of vaccines to anyone,” Jackson said.
Pharmacist Shady Basta with Be Well Pharmacy on Little Rd. said the HHS announcement was welcome news.
“It’s a great thing,” Basta said. “We already have the protocols to immunize 18 and over, and I think it’s a really great fit because we see kids all the time.”
Not everyone is in favor of the plan. The American Academy of Pediatrics called it “incredibly misguided”, and said families are looking for guidance and reassurance from their pediatricians.
Jackson said his association is in talks with the Florida Board of Pharmacy and is waiting for more information.
The state health department told Spectrum Bay News 9 that, while Florida law allows pharmacists to vaccinate adults, there’s no provision for children.
It says adding that would require legislative action.
