On October 6, 2025, the Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) accepted recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. This decision affects pharmacists' authority to administer the vaccine under specific protocols.
The Pharmacy Practice Act grants immunizing pharmacists the authority to administer vaccines to adults aged 18 and older with a prescription. As per G.S. 90-85.15B(a), pharmacists can vaccinate individuals over 18 when they have a prescription. On September 12, 2025, State Health Director Larry Greenblatt issued standing orders allowing pharmacists to fulfill this requirement for those wishing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. These orders will expire on October 13, 2025, after which prescriptions will be necessary.
Pharmacists are also authorized by G.S. 90-85.15B(a1) and G.S. 90-85.15B(b1) to administer vaccines recommended by ACIP to adults aged 18 or older and pediatric patients aged 7 to 18 by protocol with parental consent. The CDC has now endorsed ACIP's recommendation that vaccination decisions should be based on shared clinical decision-making between healthcare providers and patients.
Vaccination is advised for everyone aged 65 or older who requests it, while those under age 65 should consider their risk factors for severe COVID-19 when deciding on vaccination. Providers are encouraged to discuss these vaccinations with patients or respond to patient inquiries about them.
For children aged 6 to 18, pharmacists can administer vaccines based on a prescription order in line with ACIP recommendations as said in G.S. 90-85.15(c). The North Carolina Board of Pharmacy advises that a prescription indicates prior shared clinical decision-making between prescriber and patient or guardian.
Information from this article can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up