Resolve, To Provide Influenza Immunization Agents to All Health Care Facilities in the State

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  at this time of year we are in the middle of the influenza season, and not every health care facility and health care practitioner has stock of the current flu vaccine, whereas the State of Maine has supplies not being used; and

Whereas,  certain segments of the Maine public are at higher risk of the flu, and it is deadly to these specific risk groups, such as the elderly, the very young and those suffering chronic illness, and to benefit the health of the people of the State of Maine this issue must be resolved before the end of the legislative session; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Influenza vaccine provided. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services, in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 1062, shall dispense influenza immunizing agents to all clinics, health care practitioners and health care facilities in the State that did not receive supplies and to those who did not receive sufficient supplies of the vaccine for the current flu season; and be it further

Sec. 2. Review of distribution system. Resolved: That the Maine Immunization Program in the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health, Division of Disease Control, in accordance with its mission to ensure full protection of all Maine children and adults from vaccine-preventable disease, shall review the current ordering system of influenza immunizing agents from manufacturers and distributors, including the number of vaccines and who is ordering the vaccines, and the distribution of those immunizing agents to health care practitioners and health care facilities in the State and devise plans to ensure that all health care practitioners and health care facilities in need of the immunizing agents receive them in a timely manner for the next flu season; and be it further

Sec. 3. Preventive measures. Resolved: That the Maine Immunization Program shall include in the plans under section 2 a system to ensure that Maine citizens are protected by antiviral medication for any type of influenza that potentially could result in an influenza pandemic, as defined by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to provide the influenza vaccine from its current supply to all health care facilities and health care practitioners in the State that did not receive the vaccine. It also directs the Maine Immunization Program to devise a plan so that all health care practitioners and facilities in the State receive the vaccines in the future. This plan must also include providing sufficient antiviral medication in the event of a flu pandemic.