§ 26-4-52 — Administration of vaccines by pharmacy technicians; requirements; role of supervising pharmacist

Georgia § 26-4-52

• Jurisdiction: Georgia
• Title: 26

Text

(a) As used in this Code section, the term "vaccine" means any COVID-19 vaccine and any vaccine that is included on the adult immunization schedule recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (b) At the discretion of a supervising pharmacist, a qualified pharmacy technician may be authorized to administer vaccines pursuant to this Code section under the following conditions: (1) The vaccine administration has been delegated by the supervising pharmacist to the qualified pharmacy technician; (2) The supervising pharmacist shall be readily and immediately available to the qualified pharmacy technician administering the vaccine; (3) The vaccine shall be administered only to individuals 18 years of age or older; (4) The vaccine being administered shall be authorized or licensed for use by the federal Food and Drug Administration; and (5) In the case of a COVID-19 vaccine, the vaccine shall be dispensed and administered according to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. (c) In order to become a qualified pharmacy technician and be authorized to administer vaccines pursuant to this Code section, a pharmacy technician shall: (1) Have completed a course of training accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education or similar health authority or professional body approved by the board that includes hands-on injection techniques and the recognition and treatment of emergency reactions to vaccines; (2) Hold current certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support; and (3) Have completed a minimum of two hours of training of immunization related continuing pharmacy education approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education or similar health authority or professional body approved by the board during each biennium preceding application for renewal of his or her certificate of registration. (d) The supervising pharmacist shall: (1) Comply with record-keeping and reporting requirements established by the board; (2) Make documented reasonable efforts to obtain the name of the patient's primary care provider and to notify such primary care provider of the vaccine administered by the qualified pharmacy technician within 72 hours of administration; (3) Be responsible for complying with requirements related to reporting adverse events; (4) Check the Georgia Registry of Immunization Transactions and Services established pursuant to Code Section 31-12-3.1 prior to dispensing the vaccine to be administered by the qualified pharmacy technician and enter the patient's vaccine information in such registry in accordance with the registry's designated time frame and other requirements; and (5) Comply with any applicable requirements or conditions of use set forth in the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 vaccine provider agreement and any other federal requirements that apply to the administration of COVID-19 vaccines. (e) The board shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Code section. (f) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to require any pharmacist to authorize a pharmacy technician to administer vaccines pursuant to this Code section or to require any pharmacy technician to administer vaccines pursuant to this Code section. (g) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to authorize a qualified pharmacy technician to order vaccines.

Legislative History

Added by 2023 Ga. Laws 251,§ 1, eff. 5/2/2023.