§ 23-76-3 - Protection of public. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 23-76-3

   § 23-76-3  Protection of public. – The director of the department of health shall develop and adopt by rule andregulation 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 thedistribution and administration of vaccines. The guidelines shall include, butare not limited to, a definition of high-risk groups for priority protection ortreatment in the event a vaccine shortage is imminent;

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

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

   (4) Notifying health professional regulatory boards andlicensing authorities of repeated violations of the guidelines by healthprofessionals regulated by the department of health.