§ 19a-7r — Advisory Committee on Medically Contraindicated Vaccinations. Duties. Membership. Report.

(a) There is established an Advisory Committee on Medically Contraindicated Vaccinations within the Department of Public Health for the purpose of advising the Commissioner of Public Health on issues concerning exemptions from state or federal requirements for vaccinations that result from a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse stating that a vaccination is medically contraindicated for a person due to the medical condition of such person. Said advisory committee shall not be responsible for confirming or denying any determination by a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse that a vaccination is medically contraindicated for a specific individual. In order to carry out its duties, the advisory committee shall (1) have access to the immunization information system established by the department pursuant to section 19a-7h, (2) evaluate the process used by the department in collecting data concerning exemptions resulting from a vaccination being medically contraindicated and whether the department should have any oversight over such exemptions, (3) examine whether enrollment of an unvaccinated child into a program operated by a public or nonpublic school, institution of higher education, child care center or group child care home should be conditioned upon the child meeting certain criteria, (4) calculate the ratio of school nurses to students in each public and nonpublic school in the state and the funding issues surrounding such ratio, (5) assess whether immunizations should be required more frequently than prior to enrollment into a program operated by a public or nonpublic school and prior to entering seventh grade, and (6) determine whether (A) there are any discrepancies in the issuance of certificates stating that a vaccine is medically contraindicated, and (B) to recommend continuing education of physicians, physician assistants or advanced practice registered nurses in vaccine contraindications and precautions. All information obtained by the advisory committee from such registry shall be confidential pursuant to section 19a-25. (b) The advisory committee shall consist of the following members: (1) Two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be a physician licensed pursuant to chapter 370 who is a pediatrician, and one of whom shall be a member of the public; (2) Two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of whom shall be a physician licensed pursuant to chapter 370 who has expertise in the efficacy of vaccines, and one of whom shall be a member of the public; (3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be a school nurse; (4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who shall be a physician assistant licensed pursuant to chapter 370 who has experience in the administration of vaccines; (5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be an advanced practice registered nurse licensed pursuant to chapter 378 who has experience in the administration of vaccines; (6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who shall be a representative of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; (7) The Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's designee; (8) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; and (9) The Commissioner of Early Childhood, or the commissioner's designee. (c) The members of the advisory committee shall elect a chairperson of the advisory committee from among its members. Such chairperson shall schedule the first meeting of the advisory committee, which shall be held not later than October 1, 2021. The advisory committee shall meet not less than biannually. On or before January 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the committee shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a , on its activities and findings to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health.

Legislative History

(P.A. 21-6, S. 8; P.A. 22-118, S. 496.) History: P.A. 21-6 effective April 28, 2021; P.A. 22-118 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by replacing reference to childhood immunization registry with reference to immunization information system, effective July 1, 2022.