Pharmacy Vaccination FAQs
Are pharmacists authorized to administer immunizations in California?
Yes. Recent enactment of Assembly Bill 144 (Committee on Budget, Chapter 105, Statutes of 2025) provides authority for pharmacists to independently initiate and administer to individuals three years of age or older an immunization that, on January 1, 2025, had in effect an ACIP recommendation and that is recommended by the California Department of Public Health. This authority became effective on September 17, 2025, and provides separate and independent authority (complementing other current and forthcoming authorities) for pharmacists to administer vaccines.
Is a prescription required when a patient is vaccinated in a pharmacy?
No, a prescription from a physician is not required for a pharmacist to administer an immunization. However, some pharmacies may have their own policies on prescriptions. If medical providers write a prescription when referring a patient to a pharmacy for immunizations, it may facilitate administration and the pharmacist reporting the immunization to the primary care provider which is required by regulation (California Code of Regulations [CCR], Title 16, section 1746.4).
How old must a person be to be immunized by a pharmacist in California?
By California law, the patient must be at least three years of age if the pharmacist is independently initiating and administering the vaccine pursuant to Bus & Prof Code section 4052.05, or of any age if the pharmacist is immunizing pursuant to a protocol with a prescriber (Bus & Prof Code section 4052).
How does the primary care provider find out about his/her patients’ immunizations provided in a pharmacy?
All healthcare providers, including pharmacists, are required to report any vaccine they administer into the California Immunization Registry (CAIR) or Healthy Futures/RIDE registry (Assembly Bill 1797, Health and Safety Code Section 120440). Pharmacists are also required to notify the patient's primary care or prenatal care provider (if known) within 14 days (16 CCR section 1746.4). Primary care providers can look up their patient in CAIR to see immunizations administered by pharmacists (and any other health care providers who use CAIR). For more information, visit our CAIR Home Page.