Ohio Pharmacists May Now Administer MMR Vaccines

As cases of measles and mumps rise in Ohio, Governor John Kasich signed an emergency order that allows pharmacists to administer the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to patients age 18 or older. In order to administer MMR vaccines, pharmacists must meet training criteria required by rule 4729-5-36 of the Ohio Revised Code, and the vaccine must be included on the physician-established protocol required by rule 4729-5-37, Ohio State Board of Pharmacy notes in its announcement.

According to The Columbus Dispatch, seven counties in Ohio have reported a combined total of at least 287 cases of measles and 417 cases of mumps in the current outbreak, which began in central Ohio. Last year, there were a total of 438 known cases of mumps in 39 states. The emergency order is effective for 90 days, however, the Dispatch reports that the Board has filed a request to make the MMR vaccination rule permanent.