Maryland Health - General Section 18-214

CAUTION: READ FULL TEXT OF SECTION FOR SPECIAL NOTE

// SPECIAL NOTE: THE FOLLOWING SECTION WAS CHANGED BY CHAPTER 200 OF 2005 AND WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL MAY 31, 2008 //

      (a)      In this section, "vaccine" means a product intended to elicit, in humans, active or passive immunity against an infectious agent or product of an infectious agent.

      (b)      There is a Statewide Advisory Commission on Immunizations.

      (c)      The Commission consists of at least the following members:

            (1)      One physician member of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty Public Health Council;

            (2)      The chairperson of the Maryland Childhood Immunization Partnership;

            (3)      Two physician members of the Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics with experience in private practice and infectious diseases;

            (4)      One physician member of the Maryland Academy of Family Physicians;

            (5)      One physician member of the American College of Physicians - Internal Medicine Society of Maryland;

            (6)      The executive director of the Maryland Partnership for Prevention;

            (7)      One local health officer;

            (8)      One representative from the Department's Vaccines for Children Program;

            (9)      One representative of the Maryland school system with knowledge of the immunizations required of children entering schools;

            (10)      The Maryland State Epidemiologist;

            (11)      One representative from a public health consumer advocacy group; and

            (12)      One nurse practitioner.

      (d)      The Secretary of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene shall appoint the membership of the Commission, based on the recommendation of the appropriate medical society or agency.

      (e)      The physician member of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty Public Health Council shall:

            (1)      Chair the Commission;

            (2)      Establish subcommittees to facilitate the work of the Commission; and

            (3)      Appoint subcommittee chairs from among the Commission members.

      (f)      A member of the Commission may not receive compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.

      (g)      The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene shall provide the staffing for the Commission.

      (h)      The Commission shall:

            (1)      Determine where community vaccine shortages exist and which vaccines are in short supply;

            (2)      Develop a recommendation for a plan to effectuate the equitable distribution of vaccines; and

            (3)      Study and make recommendations about other related issues as determined by the Commission, including but not limited to:

                  (i)      Immunizations required of children entering schools in times of vaccine shortage;

                  (ii)      All available options for the purchasing of vaccines;

                  (iii)      Elimination of any vaccine distribution disparities;

                  (iv)      A public education campaign in the event of a vaccine shortage;

                  (v)      The availability and affordability of adult and childhood vaccines; and

                  (vi)      Strategies to increase immunizations among those adults and children recommended to receive immunizations, including catch-up immunizations.

      (i)      On or before December 15 of each year, the Commission shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, to the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee and the House Health and Government Operations Committee.