Bill to protect vaccine access through pharmacists introduced in state House
Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski September 25, 2025 | 12:41 PM
HARRISBURG, Sept. 25 – In Washington, turmoil has grown among health policy agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which oversee key aspects of public health, including vaccines. In response, state Reps. Arvind Venkat, Tarik Khan, Bridget M. Kosierowski and Jennifer M. O’Mara have introduced legislation to protect Pennsylvanians’ access to vaccines provided by pharmacists, regardless of federal policy changes.
Current state law allows pharmacists to administer vaccines based on CDC recommendations. The new legislation, H.B. 1881, would also allow pharmacists to provide vaccines based on recommendations from Pennsylvania health authorities, which may draw from guidance issued by professional medical societies.
“Chaos in federal health agency policymaking, which is no longer backed by scientific evidence but instead by anti-vaccine ideology, will cost people’s lives,” said Venkat, D-Allegheny. “This legislation will allow Pennsylvanians to avoid the politicization of health care and get the lifesaving vaccines they need, even if the federal government stops recommending them purely due to politics.”
Under the proposal, state vaccination approvals would come from Pennsylvania’s health authorities and could be informed by professional medical societies such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
“Vaccines are safe and effective,” said O’Mara, D-Delaware. “Decisions about vaccine availability need to be based on real science from medical professionals, and Pennsylvania medical professionals can be trusted to make those decisions.”
“I’ve cared for patients who got sick because they couldn’t get the vaccines they needed,” said Khan, D-Philadelphia. “No parent should have to worry that politics in Washington will stop their child from getting a lifesaving shot. That’s why this legislation matters — it ensures people can get protected here in Pennsylvania, and it will save lives.”
“As both a nurse and a legislator, I understand how vital vaccines are to public health,” said Kosierowski, D-Lackawanna. “We must ensure Pennsylvanians continue to have reliable access — based on trusted medical science and guidance, not federal uncertainty. I am advancing legislation to keep vaccines accessible here in the commonwealth.”
Gov. Josh Shapiro is also addressing the issue, but Venkat said a more permanent legislative solution is needed.
“We have seen forceful pushback against the chaos at the CDC by the governor,” Venkat said. “However, we need a stronger, permanent solution to ensure Pennsylvanians can receive their vaccinations even after we are past this moment of political turmoil.”
The introduction of this legislation comes less than a month after Khan, Kosierowski and Venkat, all health care professionals, introduced H.B. 1828, which would protect coverage by private insurers for vaccines recommended by the Pennsylvania Department of Health that may be informed by professional medical societies. House Bill 1828 will be voted on in the House Insurance Committee on Oct. 7.
It is estimated that vaccines have prevented 150 million deaths worldwide in the last 50 years.
Along with the four lawmakers, 31 other state representatives have co-sponsored the legislation. House Bill 1881 will now move to the House Professional Licensure Committee for consideration.