NCSBN provides volunteer registry hub for COVID-19 vaccine providers

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is offering eligible vaccinators, such as nurses and physicians, the opportunity to volunteer to administer the COVID-19 vaccine in one convenient location. Volunteers can access the most up-to-date national list of state registries for vaccine provider enrollment on the NCSBN website. Health and Human Services has taken action to increase the number of qualified health care professionals that can serve as vaccinators for COVID-19 vaccines anywhere in the U.S. through its fifth amendment to the PREP Act Declaration. This provision authorizes any health care provider who is licensed or certified in a state to prescribe, dispense, and/or administer COVID-19 vaccines in any other state or U.S. territory. It also authorizes any physician, RN or practical nurse whose license or certification expired within the past five years to prescribe, dispense and/or administer COVID-19 vaccines in any state or U.S. territory so long as the license or certification was active and in good standing prior to the date it went inactive.  (NCSBN news release, 3/11/21)