§ 68-1-403 — Declaration of epidemic - Statewide collaborative pharmacy practice agreement

Tennessee § 68-1-403

• Jurisdiction: Tennessee
• Title: 68

Text

(a) As used in this section: (1) "Chief medical officer" means the chief medical officer for the department of health; (2) "COVID-19" means the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and coronavirus disease 2019, commonly referred to as COVID-19, including a mutation of SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19; (3) "Vaccine" means a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against COVID-19, prepared from the causative agent of a disease, its products, or a synthetic substitute, treated to act as an antigen without inducing the disease, that is authorized or approved by the United States food and drug administration; and (4) "Vaccine administration training program" means a training program: (A) Approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) related to vaccine administration; and (B) Includes hands-on injection technique, clinical evaluation of indications and contraindications of vaccines, and the recognition and treatment of emergency reactions to vaccines. (b) (1) The commissioner has the power to declare an epidemic exists in this state. The declaration of an epidemic authorizes the chief medical officer to implement a statewide collaborative pharmacy practice agreement specific to vaccine dispensing and administration with a pharmacist licensed, and practicing, in this state for purposes of dispensing and administering a vaccine to this state's vulnerable population. (2) A pharmacist licensed, and practicing, in this state is authorized to dispense and administer a vaccine pursuant to a statewide collaborative pharmacy practice agreement executed by the chief medical officer. (3) The statewide collaborative pharmacy practice agreement authorized by the chief medical officer must include, but is not limited to, the following requirements: (A) The vaccine or vaccines the agreement covers; (B) The identification of a required vaccine administration training program that the pharmacist must complete before administering a vaccine pursuant to the agreement; (C) Protocols for vaccine dispensation and administration; (D) A requirement that a pharmacist dispensing or administering a vaccine pursuant to the agreement hold a current certificate in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation; (E) A requirement that a pharmacist dispensing or administering a vaccine pursuant to the agreement complete a minimum of two (2) hours of ACPE-approved, immunization-related continuing pharmacy education during each license renewal period while authorized to dispense and administer a vaccine under the agreement; and (F) A requirement that a pharmacist dispensing or administering a vaccine pursuant to the agreement comply with recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including, but not limited to: (i) Informing the patient's primary care provider if the patient identifies a primary care provider; (ii) Submitting the required immunization information to Tennessee's vaccine registry; (iii) Complying with requirements related to reporting adverse events; and (iv) Reviewing the patient's vaccine history, if any, through Tennessee's vaccine registry or other vaccination records prior to administering a vaccine. (4) Before a pharmacist may enter into a statewide collaborative pharmacy practice agreement with the chief medical officer for the administration of a vaccine, the pharmacist must have documentation of completing a vaccine administration training program required pursuant to subdivision (b)(3)(B). (5) Upon entering a statewide collaborative pharmacy practice agreement pursuant to this section, a pharmacist must maintain a copy of the agreement and documentation of completion of the vaccine administration training program on file at the pharmacist's place of practice. The pharmacist must make these documents available to the department of health upon request.

Legislative History

Added by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 346,s 1, eff. 5/6/2021.