Business & Professions Code Section 4114(a) – Amended and Reissued by California Board of Pharmacy

The California Board of Pharmacy, in response to Department of Consumer Affairs (“DCA”) Waiver 21-139 which waived restriction on healthcare students administering Covid-19 vaccines issued April 2, 2021, the Board has extended and amended its waiver on this topic issued in January 2021 to provide California pharmacists an alternative method of supervising pharmacy interns solely administering Covid-19 vaccinations.

Currently, the law is that, in connection with state/local/federal/institutional vaccination efforts, an intern pharmacist may give authorized Covid-19 vaccinations at the direction of, and under the supervision of, a California licensed pharmacist, or a California licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant who are authorized by law to administer vaccines, supervise vaccine administration or perform vaccination duties as part of their statutorily authorized scope of practice.  Additionally, these parties must have a license in good standing with their respective regulatory board.

If an intern pharmacist is solely administering vaccines in a pharmacy or in association with state/local/federal/institutional vaccination efforts, a pharmacist intern may be supervised by a practicing healthcare professional who is experienced in administering intramuscular injections if all conditions of DCA Waiver 21-139 are met.  The location providing such injections should determine whether other healthcare professionals are properly experienced in giving intramuscular injections to qualify under the above rule to properly supervise intern pharmacist at these locations.

For intern pharmacists working under this Waiver, the vaccine provider organization (i.e. pharmacy, clinic, health dept., etc.) must maintain a record identifying the health care professional supervising the intern pharmacist giving vaccinations under this amended Waiver.  This record must be kept available for three years after the end of the declared emergency and provided to the Board upon request. 

This Waiver is extended through September 18, 2021.