The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently added more categories of individuals qualified to prescribe, dispense, and administer COVID-19 vaccines.
An amendment to the Declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act authorizes health care professionals to provide COVID-19 vaccination services in any state or territory, not just the one in which they’re licensed. The same applies to any physician, registered nurse, or practical nurse whose license or certification expired within the past 5 years, as long as it had been active and in good standing.
For all such health care professionals, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 vaccine training is required. If they aren’t currently practicing or their license or certification is expired, they can administer vaccines only after observation by a practicing health care professional to confirm their competency.
The amendment preempts state and local restrictions on who can administer COVID-19 vaccines.
“As vaccine supply is made more widely available over the coming months, having additional vaccinators at the ready will help providers and state health departments meet the demand for vaccine and protect their communities more quickly,” HHS Acting Secretary Norris Cochran said in a statement.