September 2, 2021

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), the leading credentialing organization for pharmacy technicians, has awarded grants to support technician training in immunization administration to the Connecticut Society of Health-System Pharmacists (CSHP) and the Arkansas Association of Health-System Pharmacists (AAHP). 

“Advancing the role of technicians as immunizers expands public access to vaccines, creates opportunities for technicians to specialize, and allows them to contribute more to their pharmacy team,” said PTCB Executive Director and CEO William Schimmel. “And training more technicians to administer vaccines means pharmacists have more time to engage patients in clinical or other services.” 

The grant to CSHP will help fund technician training in immunization schedules, management and storage of vaccine supplies and doses, use of personal protective equipment, and safe delivery of immunizations directly to patients. The grant will also help pay program fees to alleviate financial burdens for technicians seeking career advancement.

AAHP will use the grant to provide scholarships to technicians completing Arkansas’ required training in vaccine administration. The grant promotes medication safety by helping ensure uniformity across the training process. To complete the course, technicians fulfill state requirements to be authorized to immunize, including demonstrating proper administration of intramuscular and subcutaneous injections. Pharmacy technicians in Arkansas gained authorization to administer vaccinations in March.

 

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Media contact: To obtain information, schedule an interview, or request a comment, contact Laura Humphrey, Senior Manager of Communications, at: mediarelations@ptcb.org