U.S. offers grants to train techs to administer immunizations

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), a U.S. credentialing organization for pharmacy technicians, has awarded grants to support pharmacy tech training in immunization administration to two state pharmacist associations. “Advancing the role of technicians as immunizers expands public access to vaccines, creates opportunities for technicians to specialize, and allows them to contribute more to their pharmacy team,” says PTCB executive director and CEO William Schimmel. “And training more technicians to administer vaccines means pharmacists have more time to engage patients in clinical or other services.” The grant to the Connecticut Society of Health-System Pharmacists will help fund technician training in immunization schedules, management and storage of vaccine supplies and doses, use of personal protective equipment, and safe delivery of immunizations directly to patients. The grant will also help pay program fees to alleviate financial burdens for technicians seeking career advancement. The Arkansas Association of Health-System Pharmacists will use the grant to provide scholarships to technicians completing the state’s required training in vaccine administration. Pharmacy technicians in Arkansas gained authorization to administer vaccinations in March. In 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under the federal Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act, granted pharmacy techs in every state the authority to administer vaccines to individuals three years and older under the supervision of a pharmacist and with certain requirements met, such as completion of a training program approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. In August 2021, HHS also issued a declaration authorizing qualified pharmacy technicians to administer seasonal influenza vaccines during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Qualified pharmacy techs under pharmacist supervision may administer seasonal influenza vaccine to patients aged 19 and older.

U.S. offers grants to train techs to administer immunizations

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