Optimizing Pharmacy Technician Roles Can Boost Vaccine Access and Uptake

When optimized in a team-based, patient-focused, and workflow-conscious manner, pharmacy technicians (RPhTs) play a significant role in boosting vaccine access and uptake in community pharmacies, according to the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association.¹

“To meet increasing patient vaccine needs in community pharmacies, immunization-trained regulated RPhTs [registered pharmacy technicians] practicing to their full scope within the vaccination workflow has emerged as a key improvement that can relieve competing demands on the pharmacist,” wrote the authors. “Given this potential, it is important to identify vaccine service delivery models that incorporate RPhTs in an efficient and effective manner.”

Community pharmacies are increasingly adopting sophisticated workflow models to integrate immunization-trained RPhTs, identifying 2 distinct strategies to manage modern health care demands, which include the high efficiency model and the flex and protect model.

The high efficiency model utilizes RPhTs exclusively as injectors to handle high patient volumes during peak seasons, while the flex and protect model allows RPhTs to toggle between clinical and dispensing duties to protect pharmacy resources during periods of lower volume or staffing shortages.

READ MORE: Amplifying Technicians: Mohammad Al Numan, BS, MS

This evolution is critical for the profession, as research demonstrates that integrating technician injectors allows pharmacists to prioritize activities solely within their scope, such as medication reviews and chronic disease management, while simultaneously reducing dispensing interruptions and medication errors.¹

This shift is supported by broader evidence highlighting that technician injectors are consistently reported to be as skilled, efficient, and safe as their pharmacist counterparts.^1,2

Legally, the landscape has shifted dramatically, with only a few jurisdictions allowed this practice prior to 2020. The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act provided temporary federal authority that has now been extended through 2029.^2,3 Currently, 47 states have established permanent legislation allowing RPhTs to administer vaccines like influenza and COVID-19.^1,2

Globally, the trend is mirrored in countries like France, where technicians were recently authorized to administer a full range of 18 different vaccines, and the United Kingdom, where they operate under national protocols to expand vaccination capacity.²

Despite these advancements, the transition for many pharmacies is not without hurdles. A systematic review using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research identified significant barriers such as a fear of conflicting roles with physicians, regulatory inconsistencies, and inadequate reimbursement models.^2,4

However, facilitators like strong pharmacist-patient trust and specialized training programs have proven pivotal in boosting vaccine uptake. In fact, when RPhTs practice to their full scope, they report higher job satisfaction and a strengthened professional identity, feeling more valued and trusted by their colleagues as they help mitigate pharmacist burnout.^1,2,4

Although technicians excel at administration, some research indicates they may feel less comfortable with vaccine screening than administration due to the clinical complexity of determining eligibility.⁵

Nevertheless, innovative programs like VaxChamp have successfully empowered technicians to act as vaccine advocates, addressing hesitancy and identifying eligible patients through electronic medical record reviews.² This advocacy is vital given recent CDC data showing that only 16.1% of adults have received the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine and 43.9% have received the flu vaccine, leaving significant gaps in public health protection.⁶

To bridge these gaps, experts recommend standardized training curricula that include foundational immunology, clinical safety, and communication skills to prepare RPhTs for their expanding roles. Harmonizing these educational pathways is essential, as early adopters of technician-led models report expanded service capacity and improved patient access, particularly in rural or underserved areas.^2,5

Optimizing technician roles is not merely an operational choice but a strategic necessity for pharmacists looking to enhance efficiency and meet the urgent global demand for immunization services.^1,2,4

“This research provides a foundation for health system stakeholders to adopt RPhT injector models that increase vaccination uptake and patient access in pharmacies in a team-based, patient-focused, and workflow-conscious manner,” concluded the authors of the current study.¹ “The positive impacts experienced in this study exemplify the power of patient-driven practice change and its influence on pharmacy professionals’ scope of practice.”

READ MORE: Patient-Pharmacist Communication Gaps Hinder Medication Understanding and Adherence

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REFERENCES

1. DeMarco M, Waite NM, Houle SKD, et al. Integrating immunization-trained pharmacy technicians into pharmacy workflow: a qualitative analysis of best practices. JAPhA. March 11, 2026:103073. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2026.103073

2. Valeiro C, Silva V, Balteiro J, et al. Pharmacy technicians in immunization services: mapping roles and responsibilities through a scoping review. Healthcare (Basel). 2025 Jul 30;13(15):1862. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13151862.

3. Pharmacist and pharmacy technician vaccination authority. NASPA. January 3, 2025. Accessed March 20, 2026. https://naspa.us/resource/2024-pharmacist-immunization-authority/

4. Abdulselam M, El-Awaisi A, Nasr ZG, et al. Barriers and facilitators for pharmacist-led vaccination services: a systematic review using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2025 Nov 25;21:100687. doi: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2025.100687.

5. DeMarco M, Carter C, Houle SKD, et al. The role of pharmacy technicians in vaccination services: a scoping review. JAPhA. 2022;62(1):15-26.e11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2021.09.016

6. Vaccination uptake, intent, and confidence. CDC. February 20, 2026. Accessed March 20, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/respvaxview/dashboards/vaccination-behavioral-social-drivers.html