AB 5

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is a committee of

medical and public health professionals that are selected by the federal Department

of Health and Human Services for the purpose of making recommendations on

vaccines. If those ACIP recommendations are approved by the federal Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention, they become the CDC recommendations for

vaccination. ACIP has made recommendations on the vaccine against the

SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, including recommendations on

vaccine allocation among prioritized groups. Each state creates its own vaccine

allocation plan.

This bill requires the Department of Health Services to include in the highest

level of priority for SARS-CoV-2 vaccine individuals aged 60 or older. DHS is also

required to allow a vaccinator to administer the vaccine to the next level of

prioritization based on either the ACIP recommendations or recommendations

issued by DHS if the demand on the vaccinator for vaccine has been met at the

current prioritization level. For purposes of prioritization, the bill defines who DHS

and vaccinators must consider frontline essential workers.

Certain pharmacies are part of the federal Pharmacy Partnership for

Long-Term Care Program. Pharmacies in this program administer the

SARS-CoV-2 vaccine to residents and staff of nursing homes and assisted living

facilities. The bill requires DHS to allow a pharmacy in the program to administer

the vaccine to residents and staff of assisted living facilities and other eligible

long-term care facilities before completing administration to all nursing home

facility staff and residents if the pharmacy determines that this administration

scheme is more efficient in vaccinating more individuals in less time.

The bill requires DHS to develop a plan for vaccinating the general public

against SARS-CoV-2 beginning when the supply of vaccine in the state satisfies the

demand of the populations recommended for priority in the ACIP recommendations

but no later than March 15, 2021. DHS must develop and submit the plan to the

standing committees of each house of the legislature with jurisdiction over health

issues by February 28, 2021. DHS must implement a single, efficient, statewide,

centralized, and publicly available platform for identifying populations eligible to

receive the vaccine, disseminating information about receiving the vaccine, and

allowing those in eligible populations to make appointments to receive the vaccine

through means that meet privacy requirements. The bill also requires DHS to take

action on any vaccinator application within 10 days of receipt.