Resolve, To Provide Influenza Immunization Agents to All Health Care Facilities in the State (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1980
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: BURNS, DRISCOLL, MILLER, PERRY, PINGREE, SHIELDS, WEBSTER, EDMONDS

Legislative Document 
No. 1980 
H.P. 1387 
House of Representatives. January 26.2006 
Resolve, To Provide Influenza Immunization Agents to All Health 
Care Facilities in the State 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative MARRACI-I.E: of Waterville. 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Representatives: BURNS of Berwick, DRISCOLL of Westbrook, MILLER of 
Somerville, PERRY of Calais, PINGREE of North Haven, SHIELDS of Auburn, WEBSTER 
of Freeport, Senator: President EDMONDS of Cumberland. 
Pnnted on recyded r~pt!r 
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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 
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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 ofthe 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 
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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.