On Wednesday, August 2, Governor Scott Walker signed 2017 Act 42 into law, which allows pharmacy interns who have completed at least two years of pharmacy school and an approved course in immunization administration to immunize patients ages 6 and older. While pharmacists in Wisconsin can immunize patients as young as 6, before this act was signed interns could only immunize patients 18 and older. This new law closes the experiential gap and will provide pharmacy interns the opportunity to gain practical experience in immunizing children, which develops their pharmacist skills and improves self-confidence.
School of Pharmacy students Heather Stoner, Olivia Fahey, Drew Dretske, and Megan Crombie, were critical in shepherding the bill from draft to law. They created testimonies and spoke in favor of the bill before the Senate and Assembly Committees on Health. Their testimony is available to view on WisEye.org. Mary Hayney, professor (CHS) in the Pharmacy Practice Division has been a leader in vaccine policy, research, and practice for several years. She teaches students and pharmacists to deliver this important public health service. Barry Gidal, professor (CHS) and Chair of the Pharmacy Practice Division, attended on behalf of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy administration.