Authorizes pharmacists to administer influenza vaccine to persons six months of age or older

State: OR
Bill Number: HB 2278
Position: OPPOSE
Action Required: NONE
Status: ENACTED, signed by Governor Tina Kotek on 7/13/2023, Chapter 240, effective 9/24/2023

Legislation Details:

UPDATE: 7/24/2023 - HB 2278 was enacted. Chapter 240, effective date 9/24/2023

UPDATE: 7/13/2023 - HB 2278 was signed by Governor Tina Kotek on 7/13/2023,

UPDATE: 6/21/2023 - HB 2278 passed the Senate by vote of 18 Ayes, 6 Nays on 6/21/2023.

UPDATE: 2/14/2023 - HB 2278 passed the House by vote of 57 Ayes, 3 Nays on 2/14/2023.

UPDATE: 1/23/2023 - HB 2278 was heard in the House Behavioral Health and Health Care Committee on 1/23/2023.

HB 2278 was introduced on 1/9/2023 and referred to the House Behavioral Health and Health Care Committee on 1/11/2023. It was introduced at the request of Governor Kate Brown for Oregon Health Authority. 

HB 2278 authorizes pharmacists to administer influenza vaccine to persons six months of age or older. 

If the bill passes, it will take effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

NVIC is opposed to this bill as trivializes very real vaccine risks and serious reactions by allowing  the administration of potentially life-threatening vaccines for infants by pharmacists. This bill undermines the doctor patient relationship and removes critical health history screenings prior to vaccination. Vaccines, just like all pharmaceutical products, can cause injury and death in some people. As of September 1, 2023, The United States Government has paid out more than $5 billion dollars to vaccine victims through the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). As of 8/25/2023, There were 46,093 deaths and 2,518,732 adverse events reported to the US government's Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System. 

Clearly, there are dangers associated with vaccines that should not be ignored with increasing those whnoo can administer them.  

There is no doubt the pharmacy groups will support this bill, but it presents a serious conflict of interest because of the financial benefits they will receive if this bill passes.  

America’s biopharmaceutical research companies are developing 258 vaccines. The U.S. Vaccine Market alone was $36.45 billion in 2018, and is expected to reach $58.4 billion by 2024 and pharmacies stand to increase their profits substantially by allowing pharmacy technicians to put those shots into customers.   

This conflict is compounded by the fact that pharmacists will have no liability for the injuries and deaths caused by the vaccines they administer. Vaccines administrators are shielded from liability for vaccine injuries and deaths through the combination of the law passed by Congress in 1986 establishing the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program and the 2011 Supreme Court Decision BRUESEWITZ ET AL. v. WYETH LLC, FKA WYETH, INC., ET AL.  

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Measures/Overview/HB2278 - text, status, and history of HB 2278