§ 23-76-3 — § 23-76-3. Protection of public.

§ 23-76-3. Protection of public.

The director of the department of health shall develop and adopt by rule and regulation a plan to protect the public health during a vaccine shortage by:

(1) Establishing guidelines for physicians, nurses, hospitals, health systems, pharmacies and others that hold vaccines for the distribution and administration of vaccines. The guidelines shall include, but are not limited to, a definition of high-risk groups for priority protection or treatment in the event a vaccine shortage is imminent;

(2) Implementing rules for imposing a civil penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) against persons who knowingly violate the guidelines for each repeat violation of the guidelines;

(3) Mobilizing public and private health resources to assist in vaccine distribution and administration; and

(4) Notifying health professional regulatory boards and licensing authorities of repeated violations of the guidelines by health professionals regulated by the department of health.

Legislative History

P.L. 2002, ch. 172, § 1.