STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2870

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 108

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.R. No. 108 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF LOWERING THE AGE OF PHARMACY-ADMINISTERED VACCINATION RECIPIENTS TO NINE YEARS OLD,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Chair of the Board of Pharmacy to establish a task force to study the feasibility of lowering the age of pharmacy-administered vaccination recipients to nine years old.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Walgreens and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.  Support of the intent of this measure with amendments was submitted by the Hawaii Pharmacists Association.  The Board of Pharmacy submitted testimony commenting on this measure.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that during a public health crisis children can be important vectors and are particularly vulnerable; accordingly, it is crucial that resources are in place to ensure them fast and efficient access to vaccinations.  Your Committee further finds that lowering the age of pharmacy-administered vaccinations bears further study because it is one possible method of preparing the State to appropriately address a public health crisis.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Charging the task force with selecting two chain stores and two independent pharmacies, each of which will have one pharmacist member on the task force; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes to ensure clarity and accuracy in the language of this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 108, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 108, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair