At its August meeting, the Public Health Council voted to approve emergency regulations to expand the list of those who can administer vaccinations for pandemic or novel flu viruses such as the H1N1 virus. Before those regulations were approved, the list of health care professionals who could administer flu vaccines included physicians, nurses, physician assistants, and pharmacists (for adults age 18 or older). The regulations approved in August expanded that list to dentists, paramedics, and pharmacists (allows pharmacists to administer to those age 12 and older). All of these individuals would need to be trained and licensed in order to administer the vaccination. At today’s meeting, DPH staff asked the Council to rescind its former approval and consider updated emergency regulations for a new vote. The updated regulations add two groups to those who can administer vaccinations: medical students in their 3rd or 4th year and nursing students. Also, the updated regulations allow those who are approved for giving vaccines for pandemic/novel flu viruses to also administer seasonal flu vaccines. The Public Health Council approved the updated regulations. When the emergency regulations are filed on September 14, they will go into effect for 90 days. In the meantime, DPH staff will go through a formal implementation process and have public hearings on final regulations that would, if approved at the November meeting of the Public Health Council, go into effect just before the 90 days are up.
Deborah W. Wachenheim
Health Quality Manager
