Some experts are optimistic that the United States will have an approved vaccine for COVID-19 by early 2021, but its effectiveness will still be dependent on how widely it is administered. Vaccinations for common illnesses consistently fall short of their recommended population reach, and low participation rates in COVID-19 vaccinations could lead to pandemic persistence. By reforming regulatory barriers around who may administer vaccines – in particular, pharmacists – states could facilitate a swift uptake of the new vaccine.

In this new policy brief, Courtney Michaluk Joslin proposes reforming state scope-of-practice laws that restrict or forbid pharmacist-administered vaccines. By expanding the number of locations and providers able to administer the vaccine, these reforms would reduce hurdles that hinder individuals’ abilities to become vaccinated and would greatly increase the likelihood of our success in combating the virus.