S704 - COVID-19 Recovery Act. (SL 2020-3)

Overview: Section 3D.3 of S.L. 2020-3 allows any individual to petition the State Health Director to authorize immunizing pharmacists to administer a COVID-19 vaccine by means of a statewide order if one is approved by the CDC at a time when the General Assembly is not in session. The Director must consult with stakeholders before issuing a decision on the petition. The Director can issue a statewide standing order allowing immunizing pharmacists to administer a COVID-19 vaccine and makes any statewide standing order issued by the Director expire upon the adjournment of the next regular session of the General Assembly. The Director must develop and submit a minimum standard screening questionnaire and safety procedures for written protocols for the vaccine to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services, the North Carolina Medical Board, the North Carolina Board of Nursing, and the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy within 10 days of approving the petition. If the Director does not do so, those protocols must be developed by the Immunization Branch of the Division of Public Health. The Director and any pharmacists administering COVID-19 vaccinations pursuant to the Director's order immune from civil and criminal liability.

This section became effective May 4, 2020.