Can vaccinations be given without a physician’s order?

Vaccines must always be dispensed with a prescription or order from a physician or other healthcare provider authorized by the state to prescribe medications. However, there are situations where vaccines can be administered using a standing order or vaccine protocol that is not patient-specific. In these situations, a physician or other healthcare provider does not need to be physically present for the vaccine to be administered. Several studies have shown that the use of standing orders can improve vaccination rates, and ACIP recommends the use of standing orders programs in both outpatient and inpatient settings. A comprehensive set of standing orders for the routine vaccines given to children and adults can be found at www.immunize.org/standing-orders.