More immunizations could be receive at Ohio pharmacies

(The Center Square) – Getting immunizations in Ohio is closer to getting a little easier.

Pharmacy technicians and registered pharmacy technicians could soon be able to administer immunizations around the state, servicing children as young as 5 years old.

Currently, pharmacists and pharmacy techs can immunize children as young as 7 with a prescription and 13 and older without.

Senate Bill 144 recently passed both the House and Senate and now just waits for Gov. Mike DeWine's signature.

“Ohioans deserve the opportunity to access medical treatment that is convenient and safe,” said Sen. Mark Romanchuk, R-Ontario. “Allowing these highly-trained medical providers the ability to simply do their jobs will ensure our children grow up happy, healthy and in safe environments.”

The Ohio State Medical Association and the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics opposed the bill, saying it could keep children from seeing a physician.

“We are troubled, however, by the provisions of SB144 allowing for these immunizations to occur in pharmacies without a prescription, due to how this would impact well-child visit rates across the state,” Joe Rosato, director of government relations for the Ohio State Medical Association, said in committee testimony. “It is important that in our efforts to support the health and well-being of children in our state, we do not dissuade adherence to their primary care visits.”

Rosato said the visits are critical to monitoring children's health and communicating information to parents.

Melissa Wervey Arnold, CEO of the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, agreed.

“We are concerned that parents who would otherwise bring their children in for well-child visits will instead skip those visits and instead go to the pharmacy. This is not the outcome we want as it denies these children access to other preventive services and screenings,” Arnold said.

Under the bill, pharmacy techs would have to work under the direct supervision of a pharmacist and complete a course on giving immunizations.