An Act to Authorize Vaccine Administration by Pharmacy Technicians and Reduce Vaccine Administration Training Requirements for Pharmacists
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0899
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
Sponsors: NUTTING, CYRWAY, MORRIS, PERRY, PRINGLE, SWALLOW
Amends: 32 MRSA §13831, 32 MRSA §13832

Legislative Document
No. 899
H.P. 555
House of Representatives, February 28, 2023
An Act to Authorize Vaccine Administration by Pharmacy 
Technicians and Reduce Vaccine Administration Training 
Requirements for Pharmacists
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services 
suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative NUTTING of Oakland.
Cosponsored by Representatives: CYRWAY of Albion, MORRIS of Turner, PERRY of 
Calais, PRINGLE of Windham, SWALLOW of Houlton.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, federal guidance issued under the Public Readiness and Emergency 
Preparedness Act authorized trained pharmacy technicians to administer certain 
immunizations under certain circumstances in response to the COVID-19 pandemic for the 
duration of the federal public health emergency declaration; and
Whereas, preparing for the end of the federal public health emergency declaration by 
codifying in state law the authority of pharmacy technicians to administer vaccines is 
necessary to ensure there is no gap in the provision of services by pharmacy technicians; 
and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §13831, sub-§6 is enacted to read:
6.  Administration of vaccines by pharmacy technician.  A pharmacy technician 
may administer vaccines in accordance with the requirements of this section if the 
pharmacy technician completes a certification program in accordance with this subsection 
and is working under the direct supervision of a pharmacist who meets the requirements of 
section 13832. The certification program must be approved by the board and have at least 
hours of vaccine-related training that includes, at a minimum, training on the safe and 
effective administration of vaccines, including potential allergic reactions to vaccines.
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §13832, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 308, §3, is amended 
to read:
3.  Training.  Submit evidence acceptable to the board that the pharmacist, within the 
years immediately preceding application for a certificate of administration:
A.  Has completed a 20-hour course of study in the areas of drug administration 
authorized under this subchapter and as described in subsection 4;
B.  Has graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from a college of pharmacy 
accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education that includes 
completion of training in the areas of drug administration authorized under this 
subchapter satisfactory to the board, including instruction in the areas identified in 
subsection 4 received as part of the pharmacist's pharmacy degree program; or
C.  Possesses a current certificate of administration issued by another jurisdiction that 
authorizes the pharmacist to administer drugs comparable to those authorized under 
this chapter and that is based on the pharmacist's completion of training or course work 
as described in subsection 4, or its equivalent as determined by the board, and has 
continuous administration practice since the pharmacist received such training or since 
completion of a retraining program as required in this subchapter, as long as such 
retraining incorporates the areas identified in subsection 4;
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill authorizes certified pharmacy technicians to administer vaccines under the 
direct supervision of a pharmacist. The bill amends the drug or vaccine administration 
training requirements for pharmacists by removing the requirement that certain training 
requirements were completed in the previous 3 years.