Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ANDREW ZWICKER
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Permits pharmacists to administer subsequent dose of human papillomavirus vaccine.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the human papillomavirus and amending P.L.2003, c.280.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 24 of P.L.2003, c.280 (C.45:14-63) is amended to read as follows:
24. a. No pharmacist shall administer a prescription medication directly to a patient without appropriate education or certification, as determined by the board in accordance with the requirements set forth in the rules jointly promulgated by the board and the State Board of Medical Examiners. Such medication shall only be for the treatment of a disease for which a nationally certified program is in effect, or as determined by the board, and only if utilized for the treatment of that disease for which the medication is prescribed or indicated or for which the collaborative drug therapy management permits.
b. (1) Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a pharmacist may administer drugs to a patient 18 years of age or older, provided the pharmacist is appropriately educated and qualified, as determined by the board in accordance with the requirements set forth in the rules jointly promulgated by the board and the State Board of Medical Examiners, and provided the drugs are administered under any one of the following conditions:
(a) pursuant to a prescription by an authorized prescriber for a vaccine and related emergency medications;
(b) in immunization programs implemented pursuant to an authorized prescriber's standing order for the vaccine and related emergency medications; or
(c) in immunization programs and programs sponsored by governmental agencies that are not patient specific.
(2) A pharmacist may administer an influenza vaccine to a patient who is seven years of age or older. For a patient who is under 18 years of age, a pharmacist shall not administer a vaccine except with the permission of the patient's parent or legal guardian. For a patient who is under 12 years of age, a pharmacist shall not administer a vaccine unless pursuant to a prescription by an authorized prescriber. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require a patient 12 years of age or older to obtain a prescription for an influenza vaccine.
(3) No pharmacist shall administer the first dose of the human papillomavirus vaccine to a patient. A pharmacist may administer a second or subsequent dose of the human papillomavirus vaccine to a patient, provided that the initial dose of the vaccine was administered by a physician or other health care practitioner authorized to administer the human papillomavirus vaccine. For a patient who is under 18 years of age, a pharmacist shall not administer a dose of the human papillomavirus vaccine except with the permission of the patient's parent or legal guardian. For a patient who is under 12 years of age, a pharmacist shall not administer a dose of the human papillomavirus vaccine unless pursuant to a prescription by an authorized prescriber. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require a patient 12 years of age or older to obtain a prescription for a human papillomavirus vaccine.
(cf: P.L.2013, c.254, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill permits pharmacists to administer the human papillomavirus vaccine.
Under the bill, a pharmacist may administer a second or subsequent dose, but not the first dose, of the human papillomavirus vaccine to a patient. For a patient who is under 18 years of age, a pharmacist is not to administer a dose of the human papillomavirus vaccine except with the permission of the patient's parent or legal guardian. For a patient who is under 12 years of age, a pharmacist is not to administer a dose of the human papillomavirus vaccine unless pursuant to a prescription by an authorized prescriber. Nothing in the bill is to be construed to require a patient 12 years of age or older to obtain a prescription for a human papillomavirus vaccine.