Guide for Vaccine Screening and Consent Form: Pharmacy Use Only

This page provides information regarding context and rationale for the Pharmacy Use Only section of the  medSask Vaccine Screening and Consent Form. For direction on managing the screening process for vaccines, see this Guide.

Assessing Pharmacist

During the immunization process, while a licensed pharmacy technician with Advanced Method Technician Certification or pharmacy intern with Advanced Method Student Certification may administer vaccines approved by the Ministry, the pharmacist must ensure an assessment occurs for each vaccine recipient.

  • The assessment must include screening for therapeutic appropriateness and for the presence of contraindications and precautions prior to administering any drug by any advanced method. This must be done at each visit.

See “Administered By” tab for more information about roles and scopes of pharmacy professionals and interns related to vaccination.

 REFERENCE
Last Updated: 14 Sep 2021
Last reviewed: 24 oct 2024
Pre-Administration Fee Disclosure, Product/Guideline Review, Patient Record Review, and Fact Sheets
Pre-Administration Fee Disclosure, Product/Guideline Review,  and Patient Record Review

As per the SCPP Administration of Drugs by Injection and Other Routes Guidelines, a pharmacy professional who administers a vaccine to a patients must:

  • discuss publicly funded options and vaccine supply and administration charges (if applicable) 
  • review product monograph and applicable immunization guidelines
  • review available and applicable patient records
Discussed Publicly Funded Options (if applicable)

This applies to vaccines that are publicly funded under certain criteria. When an individual is eligible for a publicly funded vaccine, pharmacists must provide the individual with the option to access the vaccine from Public Health.  Note that this is not required for the Seasonal Influenza Immunization Program nor the COVID-19 Immunization Program as these programs specifically permit pharmacies to administer publicly funded vaccines.

  • Refer to SIM Chapter 5 - Immunization Schedules, Chapter 7- Special Populations, and Chapter 10 – Biological Products for eligibility of vaccination through the Public Health program.
  • Examples:
    • Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis Vaccine [Tdap]
      • Tdap booster doses are available and publicly funded through Public Health every 10 years for SK adults who have completed a tetanus series earlier in life.
    • Hepatitis B Vaccine
      • SK residents born on or after January 1, 1984 are eligible to receive Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) vaccine. While most would have received routine HBV vaccine in Grade 6, if records are unavailable and the individual does not recall receiving the HBV series, they are eligible to receive through Public Health with no out-of-pocket expense.
  • If the individual is eligible for publicly funded vaccine, the pharmacist must inform the individual:
    • of their eligibility,
    • where they could receive the vaccine without charge (e.g., Public Health clinic), and
    • any charges for the supply and administration of the vaccination from the pharmacy. The individual will not be reimbursed by the Ministry for such charges, if applicable. 
Product monograph and applicable immunization guidelines reviewed   
  • Immunizers must administer in accordance with the Saskatchewan Immunization Manual (SIM) or the Canadian Immunization Guide (CIG), and the vaccine’s official product monograph.
Available and applicable patient records reviewed)
  • Appropriate information (e.g., patient profile, Pharmaceutical Information Program [PIP], electronic Health Record [eHR] viewer) must be collected prior to administration to ensure the safety of the vaccine recipient.
Provided Immunization Fact Sheet(s)
  • For publicly funded influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, provincial immunization fact sheets must be made available to clients to provide their informed consent for immunization.
  • Fact sheets for vaccines that may be publicly funded in Saskatchewan are available here.
  • Fact sheets for some non-publicly funded vaccines are available here. 
REFERENCES
LAST UPDATED: 24 oct 2024
Vaccine Administration Record

As per Part L of the SCPP Regulatory Bylaws, an approved pharmacy professional who administers a drug to a patient must make and retain a record in the pharmacy of the following:

  1. the patient’s name and address;
  2. the name of the drug and total dose administered;
  3. for an advanced method or vaccination by any method, identification of the manufacturer, lot number and expiry date of the drug;
  4. for an advanced method, the route of administration, dosage and the location on the body where the drug was administered;
  5. the name of the pharmacy professional administering the drug;
  6. the date and the time of administration;
  7. any adverse events; and
  8. the price, if there is a charge for administration

DIN is on the form and, while not a requirement, provides a further check to ensure the correct product is being administered.

The form does not include the price if there is a charge for administration as this is typically documented in pharmacy dispensing software.

REFERENCES
LAST UPDATED: 27 Sep 2023
Last reviewed: 24 oct 2024
Administered By

The Ministry of Health had enabled additional immunizers (licensed pharmacy technicians, pharmacist extended interns, and pharmacist student interns) to administer publicly funded influenza and COVID-19 vaccines only, as an emergency provision until March 31, 2025.

                                          Authority to Administer Vaccines

TitleAuthorized to Administer Publicly Funded Vaccines   
(COVID-19 and Influenza)		Authorized to Administer Non-Publicly Funded Vaccinesa
Fully Licensed Pharmacists with valid AMCYesYes
Licensed Pharmacy Technician with valid AMTCYes when supervised by a fully licensed pharmacist with valid AMC in community practice.No
Pharmacist Extended Interns and Pharmacist Student Interns with valid Advanced Method Student Certification (AMSC)bYes when supervised by a fully licensed pharmacist with valid AMC in community practice.No


a Includes influenza vaccine that is privately purchased.   
b See  SCPP COVID-19 Immunizer FAQs for full list of eligible pharmacy students.

REFERENCES
LAST UPDATED: 24 oct 2024
Age Appropriate

Ensure the vaccine recipient is within the authorized age group of the vaccine being provided.

Pharmacy professionals are authorized to administer vaccines to individuals 5 years and older in accordance with the age limits under SIM, CIG, and the vaccine’s official product monograph.

  • Check SIM, CIG and monograph for approved ages for each vaccine. Note that for some vaccines, approved age may vary among different brands of the same antigen.
    • E.g. hepatitis A virus vaccine:
      • Vaqta® (50 units/1 mL) is indicated in those 18 years and older 
      • Avaxim® (160 units/0.5 mL) is indicated in those 12 years and older 
      • Havrix 720 (720 ELISA units per 0.5 mL) is indicated in those ≥ 1 year to < 19 years of age
      • Havrix 1440 (1440 ELISA units per 1 mL) is indicated in those 19 years and older 
REFERENCES
LAST UPDATED: 01 Apr 2024
Last reviewed: 24 oct 2024
Minimum Interval Met

Timing with Respect to Vaccine Doses in a Series

  • Many vaccines require >1 dose, which is considered a vaccine series.

  • Doses within a vaccine series should be given according to the interval(s) recommended by the Saskatchewan Immunization Manual or the Canadian Immunization Guide, and the vaccine's official product monograph. 

Intervals Longer than the Recommended Interval

  • E.g. 2nd dose is supposed to be given 4 weeks after the 1st and individual presents at 10 weeks
  • For almost all vaccines, there is no need to restart a series if the interval has been exceeded; provide the dose as soon as possible and continue with the series if not complete.
    • Exceptions to this include cholera & travellers’ diarrhea vaccine and rabies vaccine. See vaccine-specific chapters in CIG for more information.

Intervals Shorter than the Recommended Interval

  • E.g. 2nd dose is supposed to be given 4 weeks after the 1st dose and individual presents and receives 2nd dose at 3 weeks.
  • In most cases, the last dose should be ignored and the 2nd dose should be deferred until the time of the recommended interval (in this, case 4 weeks after the ignored dose).
  • For some vaccines, a minimum interval has been determined that may be shorter than the recommended interval. Note: minimum intervals are mostly available for publicly funded vaccines and may not be determined for non-publicly funded vaccines.
    • Minimum intervals, when available, are found in vaccine-specific chapters of CIG as well as SIM Chapter 5 and Chapter 10.
  • Generally, recommended intervals should be used to administer vaccine doses. Minimum intervals need to be considered:
    • to determine dose validity if vaccines are not administered at the recommended interval, or
    • in situations in which the risk of infection is higher such as unplanned travel or outbreak situations.

Timing with Respect to Other Vaccines

Inactivated Vaccines

  • Inactivated vaccines can be administered concomitantly or at any time before or after the administration of any other live attenuated or inactivated vaccine using different injection sites and separate needles and syringes.
    • Preferably use two different limbs but if need to inject >1 vaccine into the same limb, separate the two injection sites by at least 2.5 cm (1 inch).
    • EXCEPTION: Different formulations of vaccine that protect against the same disease (e.g. conjugated and polysaccharide forms of pneumococcal vaccine) should not be administered concomitantly.

Live vaccines

  • Live vaccines given by the parenteral route may be administered concomitantly with all other vaccines during the same visit, using different injection sites and separate needles and syringes. 
    • EXCEPTION: Live varicella-containing vaccine should be not administered on the same day as smallpox vaccine; separate immunizations by at least 4 weeks. Note that smallpox vaccine is not administered in pharmacies.
    • Preferably use two different limbs but if need to inject >1 vaccine into the same limb, separate the two injection sites by at least 2.5 cm (1 inch).
  • In general, if two live parenteral vaccines are not administered concomitantly, there should be a period of at least 4 weeks before the second live parenteral vaccine is given.
    • If live parenteral vaccines are given too close together, the immune response to the second live parenteral vaccine may be affected by the first live parenteral vaccine and is considered invalid; the second vaccine should be repeated at the recommended interval if given within 4 weeks of another live parenteral vaccine.
  • Live oral or intranasal vaccines may be administered at any time with other live or inactivated vaccines, regardless of their route of administration.
REFERENCES
LAST UPDATED: 24 oct 2024
Adverse Reaction

See the medSask AEFI Quick Sheet.

Remind vaccine recipients to report a serious reaction as soon as possible rather than waiting until the next visit.

If the individual reports an adverse reaction to a vaccine: 

  • Determine if the reaction should be reported.
  • If the reaction is reportable:
    • Complete a national AEFI form.
      • A user guide is available for assistance.
    • Pharmacies are to submit AEFI reports related to publicly funded vaccines (COVID-19 and influenza) to their local Public Health Office.
      • After filing the report, communication should be received by the reporter from the MHO regarding the recommendation for further immunization.
      • The MHO recommendation may also be available in the Immunization tab in the eHR Viewer. See instructions of where to find here.
        • The MHO recommendation is to be provided to the individual by the reporter of the AEFI and documented on their file (if not in eHR). Refer individual to Public Health if any further questions.
      • Pharmacies are to submit AEFI reports related to non-publicly funded vaccines to Health Canada, the prescriber (which may be a pharmacist) and the primary care practitioner (if different from prescriber).
        • The prescriber or primary care provider is to make a decision going forward (continuing the series, etc.).
          • This decision should be provided to the individual and documented on their file.
COVID-19 Vaccine

Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESI)

  • The Public Health Agency of Canada requires reporting of specific Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESI) following immunization with any COVID-19 vaccine.
  • The national AEFI form has been revised to include a section on COVID-19 AESIs (9e), which lists several reactions. However, the list of reactions designated as AESIs is evolving and users of the form are directed to Brighton Collaboration for the most current list of COVID-19 AESIs.
  • Complete the national AEFI form; indicate the AESI in Section 9e and provide details in Section 10.
  • Submit immediately to local Public Health Office.
Vaccine(s) Implicated
  • If more than one vaccine was administered on the same day and it is clear to which vaccine the reaction can be attributed (e.g. extensive local reaction on right arm when two vaccines were administered in separate arms), indicate the implicated vaccine here.
  • Leave blank if it is not possible to determine the causative vaccine.
REFERENCES
Last updated: 01 Apr 2024
Last reviewed: 24 oct 2024
Provided Record of Immunization

A pharmacy professional who administers a vaccine must provide the vaccine recipient with a Record of Immunization card. medSask has Immunization Record cards and an accompanying patient guide. 

For publicly funded vaccines, the pharmacist must provide the vaccine recipient with the documentation specified by DPEBB (e.g., Record of Influenza Immunization Wallet Card). 

  • Individuals are able to view their immunization history of influenza and COVID-19 vaccination on MySaskHealthRecord.
  • Influenza vaccine wallet cards are available here to order and may be provided if requested. A printable version is available here. 
  • COVID-19 wallet cards are not available. 
REFERENCES
LAST UPDATED: 24 oct 2024
Notified Primary Care Practitioner 
Publicly Funded Vaccines (COVID-19 and Influenza)
  • Specific notification of primary care providers is not required for publicly funded vaccines.
    • Administration of COVID-19 Vaccine is recorded in eHR Viewer.
    • Administration of publicly funded influenza vaccine is recorded in PIP. (Pharmacists are required to submit on the day of immunization such that the entry in PIP represents administration.)
Non-Publicly Funded Vaccines
  • The prescriber or the vaccine recipient’s primary care provider must be notified of non-publicly funded vaccines that have been administered. Note: if the prescriber is a pharmacist, the vaccine recipient's primary care provider must also be notified.
  • While these vaccines are recorded in PIP, this represents dispensing and provision of the vaccine to the individual and not administration. Administration may take place on a different day and/or by another provider. Therefore, the prescriber or primary care provider must be notified when administration takes place. 
REFERENCE
LAST UPDATED: 27 Sep 2023
Last reviewed: 24 oct 2024