Drug Store News, April 18, 2017
A pharmacy technician in Coeur d’Alene, ID, has become the first pharmacy technician in the United States to administer an immunization, Albertsons reports. The new ability for pharmacy technician Samantha Thompson stems from a new law in the state brought about by a partnership between Albertsons and the Washington State University College of Pharmacy (WSU). The two groups worked together to develop the first pilot program to train pharmacy technicians to administer immunizations with permission from the Idaho Board of Pharmacy.
Under the pilot program, which began in December of last year, WSU worked with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education and the state Board of Pharmacy. Idaho last month passed a law allowing pharmacy technicians to receive the pharmacy board-approved training for giving immunizations to patients. “The data collected will be used to show how expanding the number of health professionals trained to immunize patients can increase immunization rates, better utilize the skills of pharmacy technicians, and ease the time burden on pharmacists.”
