§ 18-313

The Secretary of Health shall provide a statewide system:

(1) To control rabies;

(2) To grant authority to the public health veterinarian and the local health officer in matters pertaining to the disposition of animals that bite or otherwise expose rabies to an individual;

(3) To assist local political subdivisions regarding the laboratory testing of rabid animals;

(4) To treat each individual who is exposed or suspected of having been exposed to rabies;

(5) To distribute, in accordance with the conditions set by the Secretary of Agriculture, the biological products that are needed to prevent and treat rabies; and

(6) To allow a veterinary technician, as defined in § 2–301 of the Agriculture Article, or other clinical staff who work in or for an animal shelter, as defined in § 2–1701 of the Agriculture Article, or an animal control facility, as defined in § 2–305 of the Agriculture Article, to administer rabies vaccines if:

(i) The animal shelter or animal control facility is licensed to administer drugs under § 2–305 of the Agriculture Article;

(ii) The animal being vaccinated is under the custody or control of an animal shelter or animal control facility;

(iii) The veterinary practitioner who signs the rabies vaccination certificate has ensured that the individual administering the rabies vaccine was appropriately trained on administering rabies vaccines, including proper storage, handling, administration, and management of adverse reactions; and

(iv) The individual administering the vaccine is identified on the rabies vaccination certificate.