PREP Act and COVID-19
PREP Act and COVID-19
On January 28, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a fifth amendment to the COVID-19 Declarations under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) to add additional categories of qualified persons authorized to prescribe, dispense, and administer COVID-19 vaccines authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Visit these link(s) for full explanation and guidance on criteria for the additional PREP Act categories.
PREP Act COVID-19 fifth amendment details and requirements
PREP Act COVID-19 declarations and amendments
Information below summarizes the additional categories noted in the fifth amendment:
- Authorizes any healthcare professional or other individual with an active license or certification which permits the person to prescribe, dispense, or administer vaccines under the law of any state, as noted within the fifth amendment of the PREP Act, to prescribe, dispense, or administer COVID-19 vaccines in any other state, U.S. territory, or jurisdiction where the PREP Act applies, in association with a COVID-19 effort by a federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial authority, or by an institution in which the COVID-19 vaccine is administered.
- Authorizes any physician, advanced practice registered nurse, registered nurse, or practical nurse who has held an active license or certification to prescribe, dispense, or administer vaccines under the law of any state within the past five years, which is inactive, expired or lapsed, as noted within the fifth amendment of the PREP Act, to prescribe, dispense, or administer COVID-19 vaccines in any jurisdiction where the PREP Act applies, in association with a COVID-19 effort by a federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial authority, or by an institution in which the COVID-19 vaccine is administered.
- The additional categories of qualified persons must meet the following conditions for the PREP Act to apply:
- Must have documentation of completion of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID–19 Vaccine Training Modules .
- For healthcare professionals currently licensed or certified, the license must not have been suspended or restricted by any licensing authority, surrendered while under suspension, discipline or investigation by a licensing authority or surrendered following an arrest, and the individual must not be on the List of Excluded Individuals/Entities maintained by the Office of the Inspector General .
- To determine the status of a nurse’s license, visit: https://www.nursys.com/ .
- For healthcare professionals with an inactive license or certification, the license or certification must have been active and in good standing prior to the date it went inactive, expired or lapsed and was not revoked by the licensing authority, surrendered while under suspension, discipline or investigation by a licensing authority or surrendered following an arrest, and the individual must not be on the List of Excluded Individuals/Entities maintained by the Office of Inspector General .
- To determine the standing of the nurse’s license prior to the date that the license became inactive, expired, or lapsed, visit: https://www.nursys.com/ .
- Healthcare professionals not currently practicing, both licensed and unlicensed, must have documentation of an observation period by a currently practicing healthcare professional adequately experienced in vaccination who confirms competency of the healthcare professional in preparation and administration of the particular COVID–19 vaccine(s) to be administered.
In accordance with the PREP Act, if you are prescribing, dispensing, or administering COVID-19 vaccines authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and meet the above categories, you do not need to be licensed in the state of North Carolina.
Information related to this topic is posted on the Board of Nursing website:
If you have questions, please contact the NC Board of Nursing.
: 919-782-3211 ext. 291
: practice@ncbon.com