Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technician Vaccination Authority

Based on research conducted by the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA) and brought to you
in collaboration with the American Pharmacists Association (APhA).

 

Pharmacist Vaccination Authority

(Hover to reveal additional details about each state’s scope of authorities)

Updated January 2025

 

*”Independent authority” includes states which allow pharmacists to prescribe at least one type of vaccine independently.

Though all 50 states and the District of Columbia allow pharmacists to administer vaccines, several states have restrictions on the extent of which these authorities may be exercised. Three main areas should be considered when evaluating pharmacists’ immunization authority at the state level:

  1. Administration authority: Which vaccines are pharmacists authorized to administer and to what age groups?
  2. Prescriptive authority: Are pharmacists authorized to independently prescribe vaccines and for what age groups?
  3. Delegation of authority: Are pharmacists authorized to delegate vaccine administration to a pharmacy technician?

 

Administration of COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccines

(Click on a state to reveal additional details regarding administration of vaccines pursuant to a patient-specific prescription)

COVID-19 Vaccine Administration

Updated August 2024

Influenza Vaccine Administration

Updated August 2024

 

Since 2020, the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (“PREP”) Act has provided temporary, expanded authority for pharmacists to administer vaccines during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Previously set to expire at the end of 2024, the PREP Act has once again been extended through 2029, allowing pharmacists to continue to allow pharmacists to administer COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccines to individuals 3 years of age and older under federal authority.

While this extension maintains access to pharmacist-provided vaccinations in the near term, state pharmacy associations continue to advocate for permanent state-level legislation to ensure these authorities remain in place beyond the PREP Act’s duration. Securing these policies at the state level is critical to preserving patient access to these essential healthcare services in the long run.

Understanding current state laws and regulations for vaccine administration by pharmacists remains essential. The following maps provide a state-by-state look at the minimum age at which a pharmacist may administer these vaccines as defined by state laws and board of pharmacy regulations, independent of the temporary authorities extended by the PREP Act.

 

Pharmacy Technician Administration Authority

Updated January 2025

*Rules in progress

 

Pharmacy-Based Childhood Vaccines – Impact on Well-Child Visits

A recent study published in Health Affairs Scholar examined whether pharmacy-based vaccinations for children aged 4–17 years led to delays in well-child visits. The findings indicated that the odds of having a timely well-child visit were similar between children who received vaccines in pharmacies and those who received them in primary care settings. This suggests that guardians or parents who choose pharmacy-based pediatric vaccinations do not forgo well-child visits and may actually be more likely to obtain a timely well-child visit. Extending pharmacy-based vaccinations to patients of all ages can help improve pediatric vaccination rates. Read the study here!

General Vaccine Information

FDA-licensed vaccines: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has a list of vaccines licensed for use in the United States.

ACIP-recommended vaccines: The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (“ACIP”) is a group of medical and public health experts that develops vaccine-specific standard of care recommendations and best practices for vaccine use in the United States. Once the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) Director has approved ACIP recommendations, they are published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (“MMWR”). Upon publication, the recommendations represent the official CDC recommendations for immunizations in the United States. These recommendations are then used by the CDC to develop and publish vaccine guidelines and schedules for healthcare providers.

CDC recommendations: 

Downloadable Resources

NASPA members, log-in to view list of downloadable resources.

 

Disclaimer: Information in this resource is based on state-level laws and regulations and does not include temporary authorities granted under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (“PREP Act”). The PREP Act authorizes pharmacists in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to administer COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccines to individuals three years of age and older until December 31, 2029. Please read our full legal disclaimer for important information and limitations on the use of this resource page.

This information is based on research conducted by the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA) and brought to you in collaboration with the American Pharmacists Association (APhA).