New rule allows more students to administer vaccine Lathrop Retirement Community Association President Jack Hjelt of Northampton watches Melissa Mattison, a pharmacist at Walgreens, dispose of the syringe she just used to give him a COVID-19 vaccination at the Lathrop community in Easthampton on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. GAZETTE FILE PHOTO/KEVIN GUTTING Published: 1/20/2021 2:03:44 PM As the pool of people eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19 swells, Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel can now tap into the network of students in Massachusetts training to be pharmacists or physician assistants to deliver the shots. The change to the Department of Public Health’s emergency rules for vaccine administration expands the group of eligible providers beyond medical and nursing students if the commissioner determines that there are or will be insufficient health care professionals available for timely vaccine administration.