The bill amends Section 5-19.1-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-19.1, titled "Pharmacies," by introducing new definitions and clarifying existing terms related to pharmacy practice. It establishes a new section titled "Definitions," which includes essential terms such as "biological product," "board," "change of ownership," "compounding," and "controlled substance." The bill also explicitly includes the administration of immunizations as part of the "practice of pharmacy," allowing pharmacists to provide vaccination services to individuals aged three years and older. This change aims to enhance public health by improving access to immunizations.

In addition to these insertions, the bill makes several deletions to refine the language surrounding immunization administration. It removes specific age restrictions for administering adult immunizations, replacing them with a broader provision that permits pharmacists to administer immunizations to persons aged three and older. The bill also eliminates previous stipulations regarding the administration of influenza immunizations to individuals aged nine to eighteen, streamlining regulations to enhance pharmacy practice and patient care. Overall, these amendments reflect a commitment to modernizing pharmacy laws and improving pharmaceutical care and public health services.

Statutes affected:
6037: 5-19.1-2