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Yesterday, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar used his emergency powers under the public health emergency to permit pharmacists to vaccinate children prior to school.

The emergency order preempts state law on the issue, overriding states where pharmacists are prohibited from providing vaccines. State-licensed pharmacists may now deliver childhood vaccinations after a training program and without a doctor's prescription. The order only applies for vaccines on the federal schedule for children over the age of 3. Azar's justification for the order is statistics from late March and April showing declining vaccination rates.

The American Academy of Pediatrics criticized the order as unnecessary:

“This move is incredibly misguided. In the middle of a pandemic, what families are looking for is reassurance and clinical guidance from the doctors they trust most to care for their children: pediatricians,” said AAP President Sally Goza, MD, FAAP. “Pediatricians’ offices are open and safe. We have all necessary childhood and adolescent vaccines in stock with trained medical professionals who can administer them. We know that the best, safest place for children to get vaccinated is in their medical home.”