Do you need an order to give the flu vaccine?

[MikeyBSN]

I think the obvious answer to my question is "yes". However, I have seen and read about pharmacies, grocery stores and other places giving flu shots. I assume they are being given by an RN or LPN. However, I doubt all these people coming to pharmacies and grocery stores are bringing a prescription from their PMD. My employer offered them and I didn't need a prescription. So if you don't need an RX, and there is no doctor individual examining people and ordering a flu shot, then how are these places allowed to give people flu shots?

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

in texas you have to be licensed to give injections. rns are automatically licensed with their valid nursing license; lvns (vocational nurse) have to re-apply for the right to give shots every year, thus just being an lvn does not give them the automatic right to give shots even if their license is current. i suppose certain doctors are licensed, and others are not, depending on their specific license. licensed psychologists phds technically can, phds in counseling cannot (unless you are in florida). i think mds can, and research doctors even in medicine cannot. i don't know about pharmacists here. even if you are licensed to do so, you still have to stay within your scope of practice, so even being licensed does not necessarily grant you the right to do so. it's a scary thought, but i suppose there are people out there administering shots that are not legally allowed to, licensed and not (expired licenses). i think sometimes licenses only allow you to do it in certain states, where you are licensed, and not nationally or across state borders. nps (nurse practitioners) can write rx under a supervising doctors license, thus have blanket rights to make medication decisions without consulting their supervising doctor by association.

i live in texas and have had many vaccinations given by pharmacists.