JEFFERSON CITY — Under a bill that received initial Senate passage Tuesday, pharmacists would be allowed to administer influenza vaccines.
The bill would allow the State Board of Pharmacy to give pharmacists the authority to administer the shot if the pharmacist can prove that he or she has taken clinical instruction beyond a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy.
The bill would also establish a well-being committee to “promote the early identification, intervention, treatment and rehabilitation,” for vaccine-licensed pharmacists “who may be impaired by reasons of illness, substance abuse or as a result of any physical or mental condition.”
Two similar bills have gained House passage and have been referred to the Senate.
Mary Martin of the Columbia Health Department said that, under current law, if pharmacies want to offer the flu shot to their customers they must either be doctors of pharmacy or hire nurse practitioners to administer the shot.
“It’s not rocket science to give a shot,” she said. “The question is, are they covered from liability if they are doing it.”
Martin said that those who need flu shots can get them on a walk-in basis at the health department or get them at a doctor’s office.
“They’ll give you the flu shot if they have the vaccine,” she said.
The proposed law would require that pharmacists only administer the shot to patients with a doctor’s prescription, which Walgreens Pharmacies’ Spokesman Michael Polzin said would dilute its effectiveness.
“I guess it wouldn’t be as helpful as a situation where they did not need a prescription from a doctor,” he said.
Polzin said that Walgreens has encouraged states to allow pharmacists to give flu shots. He said Walgreens currently operates in six states where flu shots can be given by pharmacists: Iowa, Virginia, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico and Washington.
“I think having them available to do them at a pharmacy makes it more accessible for patients,” he said. “Sometimes they have a difficult time getting to a clinic at a particular time or place. I think it just makes it easier for them to get the shot.”
Bob Kilgore, pharmacist and owner of Kilgore’s Medical Pharmacy in Columbia, said that his store does not currently offer the flu vaccine because the pharmacy would be required to have a protocol set up with a physician. But, he said he supports the bill.
“Anything that we can do to help access immunizations for patients is a good thing,” Kilgore said.
The bill’s sponsor, Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, was unavailable for comment.
The bill must be read once more before the Senate. If passed there, it will be referred to the House.