Legislation Details:

UPDATE: 7/17/2024 - HB 1993 was enacted, it was approved by Governor Josh Shapiro on 5/17/2024. It will become effective on 11/5/2024. Public Law Number 77

UPDATE: 7/12/2024 - HB 1993 was presented to the Governor on 7/12/2024. Contact Governor Josh Shapiro at (717) 787-2500 and ask to VETO HB 1993.

UPDATE: 7/11/2024 - The House concurred with Senate amendments to HB 1993 by a roll call vote of 172 Yeas and 30 Nays, and it was signed by both the House and Senate on 7/11/2024.

UPDATE: 7/10/2024 - HB 1993 was amended by the Senate Appropriations Committee and passed by the Senate by a roll call vote of 48 Yeas and 1 Nay on 7/10/2024. See the amendment HERE. See NVIC's analysis of the final version of this bill:

HB 1993 authorizes pharmacists and pharmacy interns to vaccinate children ages five (5) years of age and older and authorizes pharmacy technicians to administer COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations to children ages thirteen (13) years of age and older.

This amendment (printer's no. 3499) adds Chapter 10, relating to Pharmacy Services, to Pennsylvania Code of Law and is summarized as follows:

SECTION 11. Biologicals and Immunizations

(A) Establishes education, training standards, and practice guidelines to authorize pharmacists to administer injectable medications, biologicals, and vaccinations to individuals eight (8) years of age and older. This law also authorizes pharmacists to administer influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations by injectable or needle-free delivery methods to individuals five (5) years of age and older. The standards and guidelines will include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Satisfactory completion of an academic and practical curriculum approved by the board that includes the current guidelines and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education, or a similar health authority such as disease epidemiology, vaccine characteristics, injection technique, and emergency response to adverse events and related topics.

(2) Maintenance of a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certificate.

(3) The administration of injectable medications, biologicals, and vaccinations must be in accordance with treatment guidelines established by a physician and the CDC, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices guidelines, or another competent authority approved by the board.

(4) A minimum of two (2) hours of the thirty-hour (30) requirement for continuing education for license renewal must be dedicated to administering injectable medications, biologicals, and vaccinations.

(5) For individuals under eighteen (18) years of age, parental consent must be obtained prior to administration.

(6) Maintenance of a level of professional liability insurance coverage in the minimum amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence of claims made. Failure to maintain insurance coverage will subject the licensees to disciplinary proceedings.

(7) Notification of the individual's primary care provider, if known, within forty-eight (48) hours of administration.

(B) Authorizes a pharmacy intern who has completed a course of education and training that meets the requirements of subsection (A) (1) and (2) and maintains liability insurance in the amounts specified under subsection (A) (6), to administer injectable medications, biologicals, and vaccinations, in keeping with the requirements under (A) (3), to individuals who are eight years of age and older and influenza and COVID-19 vaccination to individuals five years of age and older only under the direct, immediate, and personal supervision of a pharmacist holding the authority to administer injectable, biologicals, and vaccination or a physician, physician assistant, or certified registered nurse practitioner.

(C) Requires a supervising pharmacist to report the administration of vaccination to the immunization registry maintained by the Department of Health within seventy-two (72) hours of vaccination administration and to the individual's primary care provider in accordance with subsection (A) (7).

(D) Requires a pharmacist, pharmacy intern, or pharmacist technician who administers influenza and COVID-19 vaccination to an individual under eighteen (18) years of age to inform the parent or adult caregiver of the importance of a well-child visit with a pediatrician or other licensed primary care provider and refer the patient as appropriate.

(E) Authorizes a pharmacist who holds the authority to administer injectable medications, biologicals, and vaccinations to delegate the authority to administer:

(1) Influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations to a certified registered nurse practitioner, physician assistant, registered nurse, or licensed practical nurse; or

(2) COVID-19 vaccinations that are authorized or licensed by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to individuals thirteen (13) years of age and older or influenza vaccinations that are recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to individuals to individuals thirteen (13) years of age and older to a pharmacy technician if:

(I) The pharmacy technician:

(A) Until the board promulgates final regulations implementing registration of pharmacy technicians, holds a national certification from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or the National Healthcareer Association; or

(B) after the board promulgates final regulations implementing registration of pharmacy technicians, is registered with the board.

(II) The following conditions are met:

(A) The supervising qualified pharmacist provides direct, immediate, and personal supervision to the qualified pharmacy technician who is administering the vaccinations.

(B) The qualified pharmacy technician has completed a practical training program that is approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education and which includes hands-on injection techniques and the recognition and treatment of emergency reactions to vaccines.

(C) The qualified pharmacy technician has a current certificate in basic cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

(D) The qualified pharmacy technician has obtained liability insurance as required under subsection (A) (6) through the qualified pharmacy technician's employer.

(E) Administration of a COVID-19 or influenza vaccination must be in keeping with the requirements under subsection (A) (3).

NVIC OPPOSES HB 1993 because it trivializes the serious complications that can come from vaccination. This bill allows pharmacists and their employees, who are not medically trained the way physicians or nurses are, to perform invasive medical procedures such as administering vaccines. This bill undermines the doctor-patient relationship and removes critical health history screenings prior to vaccination. Pharmacy employees do not have the necessary medical history of an individual or the time to prescreen for contraindications based on that person's personal and family history and unique health needs prior to vaccination. Vaccines, just like all pharmaceutical products, can cause injury and death in some people. As of July 1, 2024, the United States Government has paid out more than $5.22 billion to vaccine victims through the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). As of June 28, 2024, there were 48,101 deaths and 2,614,501 adverse events reported to the U.S. Government's Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System. Clearly, there are dangers associated with vaccines that should not be ignored by expanding the authorization of those who can administer them.

There is no doubt the pharmacy groups will support this bill, but this presents a serious conflict of interest because of the financial benefits they will receive if it passes. America’s biopharmaceutical research companies are developing 258 vaccines. The U.S. Vaccine Market alone was worth $36.45 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach $58.4 billion by 2024. Pharmacies stand to increase their profits substantially by allowing pharmacy employees to put those shots into customers five (5) years of age and older. This conflict is compounded by the fact that pharmacy employees will not have liability for the injuries and deaths caused by the vaccines they administer to children. Vaccine 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.

UPDATE: 7/9/2024 - HB 1993 was amended by the Senate by a voice vote of 49 Yeas and 0 Nays and re-referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee on 7/9/2024. See the amendment HERE. NVIC does not take a position on the amendment as it is unrelated to vaccinations.

UPDATE: 7/8/2024 - HB 1993 was amended by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on 7/8/2024. See the amendment HERE. NVIC does not take a position on the amendment as it is unrelated to vaccinations.

UPDATE: 6/30/2024 - HB 1993 was referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on 6/30/2024.

UPDATE: 6/27/2024 - HB 1993 was amended by the House and passed by a vote of 198 Yeas and 4 Nays on 6/27/2024. See the final version HERE. NVIC does not take a position on the amended bill passed as it is unrelated to vaccinations.

UPDATE: 6/12/2024 - HB 1993 was amended by the House Health Committee on 6/12/2024. This amendment adds law governing health benefit plans in the original bill that governs pharmacy benefit managers and reimbursements. See the amendment HERE. NVIC does not take a position on the amendment as it is unrelated to vaccinations.

HB 1993 amends law governing pharmacy benefit managers and reimbursements. See the original bill HERE. NVIC does not take a position on the original bill as it is unrelated to vaccinations.

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2023&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1993 - status and history of HB 1993

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=PDF&sessYr=2023&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=1993&pn=3499 - text of HB 1993