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SB 2856

AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHARMACIES

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lou DiPalma and 7 co-sponsors

Pharmacists may immunize ages 3–18 with parental consent and must report each immunization to the DoH within 7 days and notify the patient’s PCP within 14 days.

04/30/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · SB 2856

Summary of Bill: SB 2856 (Rhode Island, 2026)

Title

AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHARMACIES

Purpose and Intent

The bill expands the scope of immunization administration by pharmacists for minors and clarifies reporting and notification requirements. Specifically, it adds routine, scheduled, or recommended immunizations for individuals aged 3 through 18 to the list of immunizations that pharmacists may administer under existing authority, subject to consent and reporting provisions.

Key Provisions

  1. Expanded Immunization Administration Authority

    • Pharmacists may administer routine, scheduled, or recommended immunizations to individuals ages 3 to 18, in addition to existing influenza and COVID-19 immunizations.

  2. Parental Consent Requirement

    • Parental consent is required for all pharmacist-administered immunizations to individuals under 18.

  3. Electronic Reporting to Department of Health (DoH)

    • Pharmacists authorized to administer influenza and COVID-19 immunizations to ages 3–18 must electronically report all immunizations to the DoH within seven days of administration.
    • DoH reporting format and population scope to be determined by DoH.

  4. Notification to Primary Care Provider (PCP)

    • DoH requires pharmacists to notify the patient’s primary care provider (if known) within 14 days of immunization.
    • Pharmacists must make a good-faith effort to obtain the PCP’s identity or primary care practice to fulfill reporting requirements.
    • If the patient does not have an existing PCP, pharmacists must proceed with the reporting requirements described in subsection (b) (DoH reporting).

  5. Implementation and Effective Date

    • The act takes effect upon passage (no delay or separate effective date).

Who Is Affected

  • Patients/Guardians: Rhode Island residents aged 3–18 who receive immunizations from pharmacists.
  • Pharmacists: Licensed pharmacists authorized to administer influenza and COVID-19 vaccines to minors; they will have added responsibility to provide parental consent, report immunizations to DoH, and notify PCPs.
  • Primary Care Providers: PCPs will be notified of their patients’ immunizations (when known).
  • Department of Health: Responsible for implementing and enforcing reporting and notification requirements, and for establishing reporting formats and procedures.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Consent: mandatory parental consent for under-18 immunizations.
  • Reporting Timeline: immunizations must be electronically reported to DoH within 7 days of administration.
  • PCP Notification Timeline: PCP notification must occur within 14 days of immunization.
  • Good-Faith Effort Requirement: Pharmacists must attempt to determine the patient’s PCP identity/practice to satisfy notification/reporting requirements.
  • Effective Date: Immediate upon passage (no separate delayed effective date).

Legislative Status (as of document)

  • Introduced March 4, 2026; referred to Senate Health & Human Services.
  • Committee action: Held for further study as of April 30, 2026 (with hearing/consideration scheduled on April 24, 2026 noted earlier).

Potential Impact and Considerations

  • Public Health Access: Could improve vaccine access for minors by leveraging pharmacy-based immunizations beyond influenza and COVID-19.
  • Data Integration: Enhanced reporting to DoH may improve vaccination surveillance and record-keeping.
  • Care Coordination: PCP notification supports continuity of care, though success hinges on locating PCPs for patients who may lack a long-standing relationship.
  • Operational Burden: Adds reporting and notification duties for pharmacists; may require changes to pharmacy workflows and IT systems to meet seven-day reporting and 14-day PCP notification timelines.

If you’d like, I can compare this bill to existing Rhode Island immunization statutes or provide a brief pros/cons analysis.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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