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Senate committee advances pharmacy‑immunization bill with amendments to limit technician authority and add reporting
Summary
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee released S1981 (and companion A1899) as amended to make permanent pandemic‑era immunization authorities for pharmacists and to permit certain pharmacy technicians under defined conditions, while tightening reporting and limiting technician medication administration to immunization‑related or emergency contexts.
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee advanced legislation to expand and codify pharmacy authority to deliver vaccines, including COVID‑19 and influenza shots, adopting committee amendments that narrow some technician authorities and add reporting requirements.
Chairman Vitale introduced Senate Bill S1981, which would amend the Pharmacy Practice Act to make permanent several pandemic‑era changes that allowed pharmacists to administer COVID‑19 vaccines and authorized trained pharmacy technicians to provide immunizations under supervision. Opponents at the hearing, including Maria Quigley of NJ Stands Up, urged withdrawal of the bill and questioned the need for broader pharmacy immunization authority now that COVID demand has shifted. Quigley cited low uptake of the 2024–25 COVID shot, concerns about storage, administration errors and VAERS reports, and asked what need the bill fills.
Representatives of the New Jersey Pharmacists Association and Rutgers’ Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy testified in favor, calling the bill a necessary codification of practices that improved access during the pandemic. Lori Clark (NJ Pharmacists Association) and Rupal Makasani (Rutgers) said pharmacists, student pharmacists and technician teams have safely delivered vaccines and that the bill would permanently allow those who meet licensing and training requirements to continue immunization work.
Committee amendments read into the record limited a pharmacy technician’s authority so technicians would not be authorized to administer medication pursuant to medication programs unless the medication is related to immunization and necessary to respond to an emergency. The amendments also require that all doses administered by pharmacists, interns, externs and technicians be reported to the New Jersey Immunization Information System and provide rule‑making authority to the State Board of Pharmacy and the State Board of Medical Examiners to implement the provisions.
After the amendments were read, the committee voted to release Assembly Bill A1899 and Senate Bill S1981 as amended; several senators recorded yes votes and the chair announced the bills were released as amended. The hearing concluded and the committee adjourned.
Next steps: The bills were released from committee as amended and will proceed to the Senate and Assembly floors for continued consideration and any further amendments. Implementation would require rulemaking by the State Board of Pharmacy and the State Board of Medical Examiners to finalize training and reporting details.
