ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1899

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 13, 2024

      The Assembly Health Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1899.

This bill expands the authority of pharmacy technicians to administer drugs and vaccines and permits pharmacists and pharmacy interns, externs, and technicians to administer COVID-19 vaccines.

     The bill’s amendments to section 24 of P.L.2003, c.280 (C.45:14-63): 

     1) provide that a pharmacist is required to receive appropriate training to administer a prescription medication directly to a patient, but is no longer required to be certified to administer a prescription medication directly to a patient;

     2) permit a pharmacy technician to administer drugs to a patient 18 years of age or older, provided that the pharmacy technician is appropriately educated and qualified;

     3) permit a pharmacist, pharmacy intern, pharmacy extern, or pharmacy technician to administer a COVID-19 vaccine to a patient who is five years of age or older; 

     4) in the case of a patient who is under 18 years of age, prohibit a pharmacy technician from administering a vaccine without the permission of the patient's parent or legal guardian; 

     5) remove the following provision:  “For a patient who is under 10 years of age, a pharmacist, pharmacy intern, or pharmacy extern 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 10 years of age or older to obtain a prescription for an influenza vaccine”;

     6) permit a pharmacy technician to administer immunizations to patients by injection or by other delivery method, provided that the pharmacy technician is acting under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist; 

     7) provide that an immunization administered to a patient by a pharmacy technician is to be reported by a supervising pharmacist to the New Jersey Immunization Information System; and

      8) lower the age of the patient to whom a pharmacist, pharmacy intern, pharmacy extern, or pharmacy technician may administer an influenza vaccine from seven years old to five years old.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.