MaineMaine pharmacists may prescribe and give vaccines under age rules
Qualified Maine pharmacists may provide flu and COVID-19 vaccines starting at age 6 months and prescribe other eligible vaccines for adults.
What it does
Qualified pharmacists may prescribe, dispense, or give eligible vaccines to adults. Children ages 3 through 17 may receive these vaccines from pharmacists with a valid prescription.
Qualified pharmacists may prescribe, dispense, or give flu and COVID-19 vaccines to people age 6 months or older. COVID-19 vaccines need FDA approval or emergency authorization.
The insurance provision includes vaccines recommended by the federal vaccine advisory panel or FDA-licensed vaccines consistent with named medical groups' recommendations. The full coverage requirement is not shown.
Certified pharmacists may let qualified technicians give vaccines and trained pharmacy interns give drugs and vaccines. The pharmacist must directly supervise their work.
Pharmacists must provide a written vaccine record to recipients or their representatives. They must also report vaccinations to the state system within 72 hours.
Argument forAdults could get eligible vaccines prescribed and given by pharmacists, making vaccination more convenient by avoiding a separate prescriber visit.
Argument againstHaving technicians and interns give vaccines could add oversight work for pharmacists, who must directly supervise them.
More detail
Qualified Maine pharmacists may prescribe, dispense, or give eligible vaccines to adults. Adults are people age 18 or older. For these vaccines, children ages 3 through 17 need a valid prescription from a prescriber licensed under the specified licensing laws. Pharmacists must meet the required qualifications and pharmacy board rules. Vaccines must be licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and recommended by the federal vaccine advisory panel or consistent with recommendations from the named medical groups. The named groups are the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, or their successors. Adults may receive FDA-licensed vaccines outside the federal panel's guidelines with a valid prescription that specifically says the vaccine is medically necessary.
Qualified Maine pharmacists may prescribe, dispense, or give flu vaccines and may prescribe, dispense, give, and order COVID-19 vaccines. Both permissions cover people age 6 months or older. The flu permission includes nasal vaccines. Pharmacists must meet the required qualifications and pharmacy board rules. COVID-19 vaccines must be licensed by the FDA or have its emergency use authorization.
The law lists which vaccines qualify under an insurance provision. The criteria concern the insured person. The medical groups represent pediatricians, family doctors, and doctors who provide pregnancy and reproductive care. The criteria include vaccines recommended by the federal vaccine advisory panel, or FDA-licensed vaccines consistent with recommendations from the named medical groups.
Certified pharmacists may let qualified technicians give vaccines and trained pharmacy interns give drugs and vaccines. These permissions cover pharmacy technicians and pharmacy interns working under a licensed Maine pharmacist. The pharmacist must hold the required administration certificate and directly supervise the technician or intern. Technicians must meet the referenced vaccine requirements. Interns must have the required drug administration training.
Pharmacists must give recipients a written vaccine record and report vaccinations to the state vaccine reporting system. These duties apply to vaccines pharmacists give under this section. The written record may go to the recipient or the recipient's representative. The state reporting duty applies beginning August 1, 2023, and requires reporting within 72 hours of giving the vaccine.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 13Signed by Governor Janet MillsLatest
- Apr 7PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.Passed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 7Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 7PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Became Law
- Apr 6Ordered sent down forthwith
- Vote recorded ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 6Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-956) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-962) thereto in concurrence.Minor
- Apr 6Committee Amendment "A" (H-956) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-962) thereto ADOPTEDMinor
- Apr 6House Amendment "A" (H-962) to Committee Amendment "A" (H-956) READ and ADOPTED
- Apr 6Committee Amendment "A" (H-956) READ
- Apr 6READ ONCEMinor
- Apr 6Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 876 Yeas 29 - Nays 3 - Excused 3 - Absent 0
- Apr 6ACCEPTANCE of The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-956) Report PREVAILED
- Apr 6Taken from the table by the President
- Apr 6On motion by Senator STEWART of Aroostook Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending Motion by Senator BAILEY of York to ACCEPT The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-956) in concurrence. Roll Call Ordered
- Apr 6Senator BAILEY of York moved to ACCEPT The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended Report in concurrence.
- Apr 6Reports READ
- Apr 2Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Vote recorded ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 2The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-956) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-962) thereto.Minor
- Apr 2Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.
- Apr 2Committee Amendment "A" (H-956) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-962) thereto was ADOPTED.Minor
- Apr 2On motion of Representative CLUCHEY of Bowdoinham, House Amendment "A" (H-962) to Committee Amendment "A" (H-956) was READ and ADOPTED.
- Apr 2Committee Amendment "A" (H-956) was READ.
- Apr 2The Bill was READ ONCE.Minor
- Apr 2(Yeas 96 - Nays 48 - Absent 6 - Excused 0 - Vacant 1)
- Apr 2ROLL CALL NO. 714
- Apr 2On motion of Representative MATHIESON of Kittery, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.
- Apr 2Reports READ.
- Apr 1Reported Out - OTP-AM/ONTP
- Feb 17Voted - Divided Report
- Feb 17Work Session Held
- 2025
- Dec 15The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on HEALTH COVERAGE, INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.Minor
- Dec 15Received by the Clerk of the House on December 15, 2025.Introduced
Healthcare