Administration of Immunizations

No. Pharmacists must be currently registered and certified by SED to immunize in New York State. Pharmacists certified to administer immunizations would carry the designation of an “I” on their registration certificates.

To become certified, a pharmacist must:

• be currently licensed and registered in New York State;
• submit a completed Pharmacist Immunization Certification Form with the application fee to SED;
• provide evidence that he/she has completed an approved immunization course has been completed within the past three years; and
• provide evidence he/she is currently certified in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) or Basic Life Support (BLS). “On-line” or “virtual” courses will not be accepted.

Yes. SED and the New York State Department of Health (DOH) have identified the American Pharmacists Association's (APhA) National Certificate Program for Pharmacists (Pharmacy-based Immunization Delivery) as the required course for pharmacist immunization certification. The program is offered at most colleges of pharmacy and professional organizations in New York State. In addition to the APhA certificate program, SED will accept completion of training in the administration of immunization agents received as part of a Doctor of Pharmacy degree program.

Yes. The 20 credits (8 live/12 home study) for completing the APhA certificate program and up to 5 live credits for completing CPR/BLS can be used to satisfy a portion of the CE required during the registration period in which the pharmacists earned them.

Yes. Pharmacists that administer immunizations must maintain and be currently certified in CPR or BLS to provide immunizations.

Yes. A pharmacist licensed by endorsement of his/her out of state license, who has taken an approved course and has been actively administering immunizations in another jurisdiction may be certified to administer immunizations in New York State.
 

Each pharmacist certified to administer immunizations will receive a registration certificate from SED that will contain the prefix "I". Likewise, SED’s online license verification system will also identify certified pharmacists that have immunization privileges.

Certified pharmacists may administer seasonal influenza vaccines to patients two years of age or older pursuant to a patient specific prescription/order or a non-patient specific order. Certified pharmacists may also administer pneumococcal, acute herpes zoster (shingles), hepatitis A, hepatitis B, human papillomavirus, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, COVID-19, meningococcal, tetanus, diphtheria, or pertussis vaccinations to adults 18 years of age or older pursuant to a patient specific prescription/order or a non-patient specific order.*

*Effective August 2023, the New York State Department of Health in partnership with the New York State Education Department have determined that pharmacists can administer the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine to eligible patients pursuant to patient specific and non-patient specific orders and consistent with the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendations.  This determination will remain in effect until such time as it may be rescinded by the Commissioner of Health.

*Effective August 2024, the New York State Department of Health in partnership with the New York State Education Department have determined that pharmacists can administer the Mpox vaccine (Jynneos) to patients ages 18 and older pursuant to patient specific and non-patient specific orders consistent with the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices’ recommendations.  This determination shall remain in effect until such time as it may be rescinded by the Commissioner of Health.

Certified pharmacists are only authorized to administer seasonal influenza vaccinations to children between 2 and 18 years of age.

Yes.

A pharmacist may administer immunizations based on a patient-specific prescription/order for an immunization from a physician or a nurse practitioner. Likewise, a pharmacist may administer immunizations based on a non-patient specific order from a New York State licensed physician or nurse practitioner.

A pharmacist may administer any of the following immunizations: seasonal influenza to patients age two years of age or older, and pneumococcal, acute herpes zoster (shingles), hepatitis A, hepatitis B, human papillomavirus, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, COVID-19, meningococcal, tetanus, diphtheria, or pertussis vaccinations to adults 18 years of age or older pursuant to a patient specific order.

A pharmacist may administer any of the following immunizations: seasonal influenza to patients age two years of age or older, and, pneumococcal, acute herpes zoster (shingles), hepatitis A, hepatitis B, human papillomavirus, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, COVID-19, meningococcal, , tetanus, diphtheria, or pertussis vaccinations to adults 18 years of age or older pursuant to a non-patient specific order provided that the order is signed by a New York State licensed physician or nurse practitioner. The immunization is to be administered in accordance with the most current Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP). An immunization administered based on a non-patient specific order cannot be administered outside of ACIP guidelines, for example, the current ACIP guideline for herpes zoster only allows for administration to patients 50 years of age and older.*

*Effective August 2023, the New York State Department of Health in partnership with the New York State Education Department haves determined that pharmacists can administer the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine to eligible patients pursuant to patient specific and non-patient specific orders and consistent with the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendations.  This determination will remain in effect until such time as it may be rescinded by the Commissioner of Health.

*Effective August 2024, the New York State Department of Health in partnership with the New York State Education Department have determined that pharmacists can administer the Mpox vaccine (Jynneos) to patients ages 18 and older pursuant to patient specific and non-patient specific orders consistent with the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices’ recommendations. This determination shall remain in effect until such time as it may be rescinded by the Commissioner of Health.

Additional information can be found on DOH’s website, located here.

For the most current information, please refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, located here.

Poster: “Protect your kids from the Flu!”

Handout: “The Flu: A Guide for Parents”

“The Flu: A Guide for Parents” is also available in Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Korean and Russian here.

Yes. Certified pharmacists may administer immunizations outside the registered pharmacy area.

As described in section 2168 of the New York State Public Health Law, pharmacists must:

• report all immunizations administered to persons less than 19 years of age to the New York State Immunization Information System (NYSIIS), for immunizations administered outside of New York City (NYC), or to the City Immunization Registry (CIR), for immunizations administered within NYC; and
• report immunizations administered to persons aged 19 years and older to NYSIIS or the CIR upon consent of the patient; and
• report to the patient’s primary care provider upon consent of the patient within one month of administration.

For more information on reporting to the Department of Health, please visit the NYSIIS Web site here. Pharmacists in New York City must report to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. .

Yes, for full details please refer to the Medicaid Updates on Immunization here.

Information on the VFC program is available here.