The Commissioner of Public Health has issued an Order, under her authority pursuant to M.G.L. c. 94C, § 7(g) and 105 CMR 700.003(H) of the Drug Control Program (DCP) regulations, to temporarily enlarge the pool of authorized vaccinators to include all EMS personnel (Paramedics, Advanced EMTs and EMT-Basics) working in conjunction with their ambulance services for administration of flu and COVID-19 vaccine only (flu vaccine to those age 3 and older; COVID-19 vaccine to those 18 and older). Her Order, which supersedes the original Order she issued November 2, 2020 for paramedic flu vaccination authority, also extends this temporary authorization to medical students and nursing students.

Ambulance services and their EMS personnel temporarily authorized under this Order may administer vaccine in accordance the Order, the DCP guidance under this Order, as well as the Special Protocols for this limited-period flu and COVID-19 vaccine administration authority only. (Note that MIH and CEMS paramedics are authorized by 105 CMR 700.003(A)(4) to administer flu and other vaccines as determined by the Department to persons 18 and older, and they do so in accordance with their MIH or CEMS program’s medical director’s protocols for such vaccine administration.)

Please find below the following documents:

* The Commissioner’s Order
* The DCP Guidance
* The Special Protocols:
* For Flu Vaccination, EMS personnel of all levels
* For COVID-19 Vaccine, Advanced EMT and Paramedic
* For COVID-19 Vaccine, EMT-Basic
* Appendix A1 to Special Protocols for COVID-19 Vaccine
* CDC/ACIP Documents
— IM Injection
— Vaccine administration

For any questions with regard to this temporary authorization for EMS personnel to administer flu and COVID-19 vaccine, please contact renee.atherton@mass.gov