Ontario pharmacists and pharmacy technicians gain expanded vaccine and minor-ailment prescribing authority

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted · not legal advice

The regulation adds tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccines to the list of vaccines that eligible pharmacy members are authorized to administer by injection. Separately, a future change (taking effect mid-2026) will expand pharmacy technicians' injection authority beyond influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccines to cover all Schedule 3 vaccines, and will remove the requirement to follow Ontario's Universal Influenza Immunization Program when giving flu shots. The minor ailment schedule is also significantly expanded (effective mid-2026) to let pharmacists independently manage additional conditions, including calluses and corns, mild tension headaches, head lice, seborrheic dermatitis, body and groin ringworm, warts, viral rhinitis/rhinosinusitis, and dry eye disease, using specified drug classes. Pharmacy operators, pharmacists, intern pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians should review which new vaccines and conditions now fall within their scope and ensure their staff training and protocols reflect these changes.

Who this affects: Part A pharmacists · pharmacy technicians · intern pharmacists · intern technicians · pharmacy operators