AMA opposes HHS move to expand pharmacists’ scope of practice

The American Medical Association (AMA) said Wednesday it does not support a new HHS declaration that permits pharmacists and pharmacy interns to administer vaccines to children aged 3-18 years. According to the declaration, “many states already allow pharmacists to administer vaccines to children of any age.” However, AMA president Susan R. Bailey, MD, says this claim is misleading, asserting that “many of these states have important protocols in place, such as requiring a prescription or order from a physician.” She added, “While we acknowledge that childhood vaccinations have significantly declined during the pandemic, preempting state licensing laws to expand pharmacists’ scope of practice is not the solution to vaccine hesitancy and will create additional problems,” including the further fragmentation of children’s health care. Bailey expressed concern that “it will likely cause children to forgo holistic well-child exams and comprehensive preventive care, early diagnosis, optimal therapy, and ensured timely vaccinations that are necessary to safeguard children’s health, especially during a pandemic.” She said, “We urge HHS to reconsider the negative health repercussions of funneling children away from their primary care physicians and rescind this declaration.”