APhA Urges Biden Administration to Use Retired Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians in COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign

Author(s):

Jill Murphy, Associate Editor

The federal government also gave pharmacy technicians the authority to administer COVID-19 vaccines under the supervision of a pharmacist.

On February 2, 2021, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) asked the Biden administration to include recently retired pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in its campaign to vaccinate 100 million Americans against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the administration’s first 100 days. The request was made in a joint letter signed by the APhA and 7 other pharmacy organizations.

During the pandemic, the US Department of Health and Human Services affirmed that pharmacists have the authority to order and administer COVID-19 vaccines across the United States. Further, the federal government also gave pharmacy technicians the authority to administer COVID-19 vaccines under the supervision of a pharmacist.

As of late January, the Biden Administration expanded the nation’s vaccinating workforce even further by extending vaccination authority to retired physicians and nurses who have held a license in good standing with any state during the past 5 years.

“Every state allows pharmacists to administer vaccinations to patients, and pharmacists are well-trained to undertake this service,” the pharmacy groups said in the letter to the administration.

“Recently retired pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are ready, willing and able to contribute this effort,” said Ilisa Bernstein, senior vice president of Pharmacy Practice and Government Affairs for APhA, in a press release. “They have the training and the experience to help get the job done.”

The organizations cosigning the letter were: