Emergency Measures to Manage the Flu Vaccine Shortage

Oregon Vaccine Education and Prioritization Plan

Statutory Authority - Oregon Revised Statutes - 433.040. (Administrative Rules)

(1) As used in this section, 'vaccine' includes
vaccines, immune products and chemoprophylactic medications.

(2) When the State Health Officer of the Department of
{ - Human Services - } { + Public Health + } determines that
there is clear evidence that adverse and avoidable health
outcomes from a preventable and acute communicable disease are
expected to affect identifiable categories of high-risk
individuals throughout Oregon and that assistance with the
administration of vaccine is warranted due to a vaccine shortage
to protect or treat such individuals, the health officer shall
implement the Oregon Vaccine Education and Prioritization Plan as
provided in subsection (3) of this section.

(3) The Department of { - Human Services - } { + Public
Health + } shall develop and adopt by rule the Oregon Vaccine
Education and Prioritization Plan to protect the public health
during a vaccine shortage. The plan shall consist of:

(a) 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;
(b) Rules for imposing a civil penalty of $500 against persons
who knowingly violate the guidelines for each repeat violation of
the guidelines; and
(c) Procedures for:

(A) Mobilizing public and private health resources to assist in
vaccine distribution and administration; and
(B) Notifying health professional regulatory boards and
licensing authorities of repeated violations of the guidelines by
health professionals regulated by the board or licensed by the
authority.