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Council Okays Pharmacy Practice Act |
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Pharmacists Will Be Allowed to Administer Immunizations and Vaccinations
Washington, D.C. – Today, the D.C. Council gave final approval to Bill 17-787, the “Pharmacy Practice Amendment Act of 2008.” The legislation championed by Councilmember David Catania (At-Large), Chairman of the Committee on Health, will permit pharmacists in the District of Columbia to administer immunizations and vaccinations. The bill requires pharmacists to be certified by the Board of the Pharmacy prior to being performing immunizations and vaccinations.
“While the legislation seems fairly innocuous, it will significantly increase vaccination rates,” said Catania. “Over the last few years, the District has made enormous progress at vaccinating our school children. We have literally gone from last to first. This bill will help keep that momentum going.”
Forty-nine states allow pharmacists to administer immunizations and vaccinations, thereby increasing access to critical preventative health care. Residents of states where pharmacists are allowed to administer immunizations and vaccinations are 10% more likely to be immunized than individuals who live in states where pharmacists cannot do so; and this difference holds true when controlling for demographic factors such as gender, race, income, health insurance and self-perceived health status.
In 2007, only 60% of District adults received an influenza vaccine as compared to the national average of 70%. Pharmacies offer a unique and convenient setting in which to meet the public’s unmet immunization and vaccination needs, and allowing pharmacists to administer immunizations will provide District residents with greater access to health services.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 02 December 2008 )
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