The
Texas House of Representatives voted May 4 to advance one of TPA’s
top priorities relating to immunizations by pharmacists and pharmacy
technicians. The House gave preliminary approval to House Bill 1105
by Rep. Four Price, with the final passage vote expected this morning
when the House convenes. After passage by the House, the bill moves to
the Senate, where we hope for a quick referral to the Senate Health and
Human Services Committee to be heard.
The legislation would allow
pharmacists to order and administer CDC-recommended vaccines to
individuals 3 years and older, and to delegate vaccine administration to
a certified pharmacy technician. This expanded authority was granted by
the federal PREP Act during the pandemic and has greatly increased
immunization access points for patients. If the legislature does not act
to amend state law, pharmacists will return to more limited
immunization authority once the federal authority expires. Pediatricians
and other physician groups oppose the bill, arguing that childhood
immunizations should be handled by physicians, not pharmacists, despite
the greater accessibility of pharmacists and statistics showing that
nearly 60% of Texas children do not have a medical home, or primary care
doctor.
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