An Act To Expand the Types of Vaccines That May Be Administered by Pharmacists
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0032
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: JOHNSON, SANBORN, CLEVELAND, GRATWICK, PATRICK, CAMPBELL, VOLK
Amends: 32 MRSA §13831

Legislative Document 
No. 32 
S.P. 21 
In Senate, January 15, 2013 
An Act To Expand the Types of Vaccines That May Be 
Administered by Pharmacists 
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator JOHNSON of Lincoln. 
Cosponsored by Representative SANBORN of Gorham and 
Senators: CLEVELAND of Androscoggin, GRATWICK of Penobscot, PATRICK of Oxford, 
Representatives: CAMPBELL of Newfield, VOLK of Scarborough. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §13831, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2011, c. 577, §3, is further 
amended to read: 
2.  Administration of other vaccines.  A pharmacist licensed in this State who meets 
the qualifications and requirements of section 13832 and rules adopted by the board, in 
addition to influenza vaccines under subsection 1, may administer vaccines licensed by 
the United States Food and Drug Administration that are recommended by the United 
States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization 
Practices, or successor organization, for administration to adults to a person 18 years of 
age or older according to a valid prescription when the person has an existing primary 
care physician or other existing relationship with a nurse practitioner or an authorized 
practitioner in this State.  A pharmacist may administer vaccines licensed by the United 
States Food and Drug Administration that are outside the guidelines recommended by the 
United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on 
Immunization Practices, or successor organization, to a person 18 years of age or older 
according to a valid prescription when the person has an existing primary care physician 
or other existing relationship with a nurse practitioner or an authorized practitioner in this 
State if the prescription specifically states that the vaccine is medically necessary.  When 
the person does not have an existing relationship with a primary care physician, nurse 
practitioner or other practitioner in this State, the pharmacist may proceed to administer 
according to a treatment protocol established by an authorized practitioner or a written 
standing order from a practitioner authorized under the laws of this State to issue an 
order, a prescription or a protocol to a person 18 years of age or older for vaccines 
licensed by the United States Food and Drug Administration that are recommended by 
the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on 
Immunization Practices, or successor organization, for administration to adults. 
SUMMARY 
Current law allows a pharmacist to administer a vaccine licensed by the United States 
Food and Drug Administration to a person 18 years of age or older with a valid 
prescription as long as the vaccine is recommended by the United States Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the 
person has a primary care physician or other existing relationship with a nurse 
practitioner or an authorized practitioner. 
This bill allows a pharmacist also to administer a vaccine licensed by the United 
States Food and Drug Administration to a person 18 years of age or older who has a 
primary care physician or other existing relationship with a nurse practitioner or an 
authorized practitioner if the vaccine is outside the guidelines recommended by the 
United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on 
Immunization Practices if the prescription specifically states that the vaccine is medically 
necessary.