(WASHINGTON, DC) Ilisa Bernstein, PharmD, JD, FAPhA, interim executive vice president and CEO of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) released the following statement regarding HHS Secretary Becerra signing a Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act declaration that grants pharmacists the authority to administer monkeypox vaccines.  

Today, in response to the U.S. Supreme Court recent decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released guidance for pharmacies that sets forth their obligations under federal civil rights laws, conflicting with some state laws, and raises concerns for our nation's pharmacies and pharmacists.