Amended regulations under the Pharmacy Act that permit pharmacist administration of selected vaccines were announced by the Minister of Health on December 1, 2016 and will take effect as of December 15, 2016.
The amended regulations will ensure that vaccinations are more convenient and accessible for patients. Patient safety will also be improved because temperature-sensitive vaccines can be administered on-site at the pharmacy, instead of having to be transported to another location for administration by a different primary health care provider.
Pharmacists, pharmacy students and interns will be permitted to administer vaccines to any patient older than five years for 13 vaccine-preventable diseases in the following circumstances:
- The patient is prescribed a Schedule I vaccine specified in the regulations; and/or
- The patient requires a Schedule II vaccine specified in the regulations.
Authority includes vaccinations for Haemophilus Influenza Type B, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Herpes Zoster, Human Papillomavirus, Japanese Encephalitis, Meningitis, Pneumococcal Disease, Rabies, Tuberculosis, Typhoid Disease, Varicella Virus and Yellow Fever.
Pharmacy professionals are expected to adhere to the requirements outlined in the Code of Ethics, Standards of Practice, legislation, and College policies and guidelines when providing any pharmacy service.
The College has developed an Administering a Substance by Injection or Inhalation Guideline to provide further guidance to pharmacy professionals when administering a vaccine.