Lamont: Pharmacists Can Give Flu Vaccine To Children

CONNECTICUT — Licensed pharmacists will be able to administer any federally-approved coronavirus vaccines after Gov. Ned Lamont signed an executive order. Pharmacists will also be allowed to administer flu vaccines to children between the ages of 10 and 17 years old.

The Food and Drug Administration will review emergency use authorizations for Pfizer and Moderna vaccine candidates in the coming weeks.

Pharmacists will be required to electronically report administration of the flu vaccine obtained through the Connecticut Vaccine Program to children to the state’s immunization registry.

Related: Here's When You'll Likely Receive The Coronavirus Vaccine In CT

Normally pharmacists in Connecticut can only administer the flu vaccine to adults. Lawmakers debated a bill last year that would’ve expanded the ability of pharmacists to administer vaccines to children 12 and over, but the bill died in the state Senate, according to the Hartford Courant.

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Lamont wrote in his executive order that health experts are strongly encouraging people over the age of six months to get the flu vaccine this year in an effort to minimize the seasonal burden the flu can place on hospitals. The federal Department of Health and Human Services recently issued guidance to authorize pharmacists to administer vaccines to people over three years of age.

Lamont’s executive order also ensures that no one will be charged out-of-network rates for coronavirus vaccinations; that will allow the vaccine to be free to anyone who wants one. Providers will be paid what they would under Medicare.