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*sb0773*
SENATE BILL 773
J2 6lr3314
CF HB 1135
By: Senator Augustine
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Finance
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 25, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Health Occupations – Pharmacists – Vaccination Orders 2
FOR the purpose of authorizing a pharmacist to order certain vaccinations for individuals 3
who are at least a certain age without having to also administer the vaccination; and 4
generally relating to the ordering of vaccinations by pharmacists. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Health Occupations 7
Section 12–508 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Article – Health Occupations 13
12–508. 14
(a) (1) Subject to paragraph (4) of this subsection, a pharmacist may order 15
[and] A VACCINATION FOR OR administer a vaccination to an individual who is at least 3 16
years old if: 17
(i) The vaccine is: 18
2 SENATE BILL 773
1. An influenza vaccine; 1
2. A COVID–19 vaccine; or 2
3. Used in response to a public health emergency; 3
(ii) The pharmacist has completed a practical training program of at 4
least 20 hours that is approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education and 5
includes: 6
1. Hands–on injection techniques; 7
2. Clinical evaluation of indications and contraindications of 8
vaccines; and 9
3. The recognition and treatment of emergency reactions to 10
vaccines; 11
(iii) The pharmacist has a current certificate in basic 12
cardiopulmonary resuscitation; 13
(iv) The pharmacist has co mpleted a minimum of 2 hours of 14
continuing pharmaceutical education related to immunizations that is approved by the 15
Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as part of the license renewal requirements 16
under § 12–309 of this title; 17
(v) The pharmacist complies with the record–keeping and reporting 18
requirements in paragraph (5) of this subsection and any corresponding regulations 19
adopted by the Board; and 20
(vi) If the vaccination is administered to an individual under the age 21
of 18 years, OR ORDERED FOR ADMINISTRATION BY AN ADULT CAREGIVE R TO AN 22
INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, the pharmacist informs the child vaccination 23
patient and adult caregiver who is accompanying the child of the importance of well –child 24
visits with a pediatric primary ca re provider and refers the patient to a pediatric primary 25
care provider when appropriate. 26
(2) Subject to paragraph (4) of this subsection, a pharmacist who has met 27
the requirement of paragraph (1)(ii) through (vi) of this subsection may administer to an 28
individual who is at least 7 years old a vaccination that is: 29
(i) Recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and 30
Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; or 31
(ii) Approved or authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug 32
Administration. 33
SENATE BILL 773 3
(3) Subject to paragraph (4) of this subsection, a pharmacist who has met 1
the requirement of paragraph (1)(ii), (iii), and (iv) of this subsection may administer to an 2
adult a vaccination that is recommended in the Centers for Disease Co ntrol and 3
Prevention’s Health Information for International Travel. 4
(4) (i) A pharmacist shall ORDER OR administer a vaccination under 5
paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection under a written protocol that: 6
1. Is vaccine specific; and 7
2. Meets criteria established by the Department, in 8
consultation with the Board, the Board of Physicians, and the Board of Nursing, in 9
regulation. 10
(ii) The recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and 11
Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunizat ion Practices cited in this section refer to 12
federal statutes, rules, and guidance in effect: 13
1. On December 31, 2024; or 14
2. At a later date to account for any new vaccines 15
recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on 16
Immunization Practices after December 31, 2024. 17
(5) A pharmacist shall: 18
(i) Report all vaccinations administered OR ORDERED by the 19
pharmacist to the ImmuNet Program established under § 18 –109 of the Health – General 20
Article; 21
(ii) If the vaccination has been administered in accordance with a 22
prescription, document at least one effort to inform the individual’s authorized prescriber 23
that the vaccination has been administered; and 24
(iii) Except for an influenza vaccination administer ed under 25
paragraph (1) of this subsection, if the authorized prescriber is not the individual’s primary 26
care provider or if the vaccination has not been administered in accordance with a 27
prescription, document at least one effort to inform the individual’s primary care provider 28
or other usual source of care that the vaccination has been administered. 29
(b) The Board shall: 30
(1) Set reasonable fees for the administration of vaccinations under this 31
section; and 32
(2) Adopt regulations that require a pharmacist to submit a registration 33
form to the Board that includes verification that the pharmacist: 34
4 SENATE BILL 773
(i) Has successfully completed a certification course approved by the 1
Board that included instruction in the guidelines and recommendations of the Cen ters for 2
Disease Control and Prevention regarding vaccinations in effect on December 31, 2024; and 3
(ii) Is certified in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation and obtained 4
the certification through in–person classroom instruction. 5
SECTION 2. AND BE IT F URTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 6
October 1, 2026. 7
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.