PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
An Act To Expand the Types of Vaccines That May Be Administered by Pharmacists
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §13831, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2011, c. 577, §3, is further amended to read:
 
2. Administration of other vaccines.   A pharmacist licensed in this State who meets the qualifications and requirements of section 13832 and rules adopted by the board, in addition to influenza vaccines under subsection 1, may administer vaccines licensed by the United States Food and Drug Administration that are recommended by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or successor organization, for administration to adults to a person 18 years of age or older according to a valid prescription when the person has an existing primary care physician or other existing relationship with a nurse practitioner or an authorized practitioner in this State. A pharmacist may administer vaccines licensed by the United States Food and Drug Administration that are outside the guidelines recommended by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or successor organization, to a person 18 years of age or older according to a valid prescription when the person has an existing primary care physician or other existing relationship with a nurse practitioner or an authorized practitioner in this State if the prescription specifically states that the vaccine is medically necessary. When the person does not have an existing relationship with a primary care physician, nurse practitioner or other practitioner in this State, the pharmacist may proceed to administer according to a treatment protocol established by an authorized practitioner or a written standing order from a practitioner authorized under the laws of this State to issue an order, a prescription or a protocol to a person 18 years of age or older for vaccines licensed by the United States Food and Drug Administration that are recommended by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or successor organization, for administration to adults.
 
SUMMARY
Current law allows a pharmacist to administer a vaccine licensed by the United States Food and Drug Administration to a person 18 years of age or older with a valid prescription as long as the vaccine is recommended by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the person has a primary care physician or other existing relationship with a nurse practitioner or an authorized practitioner.
This bill allows a pharmacist also to administer a vaccine licensed by the United States Food and Drug Administration to a person 18 years of age or older who has a primary care physician or other existing relationship with a nurse practitioner or an authorized practitioner if the vaccine is outside the guidelines recommended by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices if the prescription specifically states that the vaccine is medically necessary.