HOUSE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 880, 1169, 1379, PRINTER'S NO. 1654
1388
No. 769 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY CORMAN, MOWERY, KUKOVICH, D. WHITE, WAGNER,
ERICKSON, BOSCOLA, RAFFERTY, KITCHEN, WAUGH, COSTA, STOUT,
MUSTO, RHOADES AND KASUNIC, MAY 19, 2003
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 8, 2004
AN ACT
1 Providing for immunization against the influenza virus and
2 pneumococcal disease for elderly persons.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Short title.
6 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Elderly
7 Immunization Act.
8 Section 2. Definitions.
9 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
10 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
11 context clearly indicates otherwise:
12 "Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
13 "Eligible person." A person 65 years of age or older.
14 "Facilities providing ongoing medical care." Physicians'
15 offices, public health clinics, hemodialysis centers, hospital
16 specialty-care clinics and outpatient rehabilitation programs.
1 "Hospital." An institution licensed as a hospital by the
2 Department of Health pursuant to Chapter 8 of the act of July
3 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities
4 Act.
5 Section 3. Vaccination offered to eligible persons.
6 (a) General rule.--When an eligible person is admitted to a
7 hospital for a period of more than 24 hours for a condition
8 unrelated to the influenza virus or pneumococcal disease, he or
9 she shall be informed that a vaccination for the influenza virus
10 and pneumococcal disease is available and provided the
11 opportunity to receive vaccination against the influenza virus
12 and pneumococcal disease prior to discharge from the hospital.
13 Immunization shall be conducted in accordance with the
14 recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization
15 Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
16 (b) Other facilities to offer vaccination.--Vaccination for
17 the influenza virus and pneumococcal disease shall also be
18 offered to an eligible person at facilities providing ongoing
19 medical care to the extent possible as determined by the
20 facility. If the facility determines it is not possible to
21 provide the vaccine, information shall be provided to the
22 patient on other options for obtaining the vaccine.
23 (c) Time frame for availability of influenza and
24 pneumococcal vaccine.--The influenza and pneumococcal vaccine <--
25 PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE.-- <--
26 (1) THE INFLUENZA VACCINE shall be made available for
27 eligible persons during the months of October and November.
28 Vaccination efforts may continue into December and later
29 based on availability of the vaccine.
30 (2) THE PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE SHALL BE AVAILABLE FOR <--
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1 ELIGIBLE PERSONS.
2 (d) Protocols.--Vaccines may be administered under
3 institution-approved or physician-approved protocols after an
4 assessment has been made for contraindications.
5 (e) Responsibility of person administering vaccine.--It
6 shall be the responsibility of the person administering the
7 vaccine to inquire as to whether the eligible person has already
8 received a vaccination against the influenza virus or
9 pneumococcal disease for the year in question. <--
10 (f) Documentation of vaccine.--Receipt of the vaccination
11 shall be documented on the patient's chart and made a part of
12 the patient's permanent record at the hospital or other
13 facility.
14 Section 4. Responsibilities of department.
15 (a) Promulgation of regulations.--The department shall MAY <--
16 promulgate regulations relating to this act, taking into
17 consideration the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on
18 Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and
19 Prevention.
20 (b) Educational materials.--The department shall make
21 available educational and informational materials to all
22 hospitals and other facilities providing ongoing medical care
23 concerning vaccination against the influenza virus and
24 pneumococcal disease.
25 Section 5. Effective date.
26 This act shall take effect in 90 days.
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