An Act to Decrease Barriers for Preventive Health Services by Allowing Pharmacy Technicians to Administer Vaccines
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1151
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
Sponsors: INGWERSEN, MEYER, PIERCE, TIPPING, BRENNAN, WHITE, ZAGER
Amends: 32 MRSA §13831

Legislative Document
No. 1151
S.P. 478
In Senate, March 13, 2023
An Act to Decrease Barriers for Preventive Health Services by 
Allowing Pharmacy Technicians to Administer Vaccines
Reference to the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services 
suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator INGWERSEN of York.
Cosponsored by Representative MEYER of Eliot and
Senators: PIERCE of Cumberland, TIPPING of Penobscot, Representatives: BRENNAN of 
Portland, WHITE of Waterville, ZAGER of Portland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §13831, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2015, c. 211, §1, is further 
amended to read:
1.  Administration of influenza vaccines.  A pharmacist licensed in this State who 
meets the qualifications and requirements of section 13832 and rules adopted by the board 
may administer topically or by injection or by inhalation all forms of influenza vaccines, 
including intranasal influenza vaccines, to a person 7 3 years of age or older without a 
prescription.
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §13831, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2013, c. 6, §1, 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 3 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 3 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.
Sec. 3.  32 MRSA §13831, sub-§6 is enacted to read:
6.  Administration of vaccines by a pharmacy technician.  A pharmacy technician 
who holds a registration to administer vaccines issued by the board and is working under 
the direct supervision of a pharmacist who meets the requirements of section 13832 may 
administer vaccines under this section.
SUMMARY
This bill authorizes certain pharmacy technicians to administer vaccines under the 
supervision of a pharmacist. It changes the age of a person to whom a pharmacist may 
administer influenza vaccines without a prescription from a person 7 years of age or older 
to a person 3 years of age or older. It authorizes a pharmacist to administer other vaccines 
to a person 3 years of age or older without a prescription.