STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2311

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2229

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2229 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VACCINATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to enact a recommendation made by the immunizations task force to allow pharmacists to administer the influenza vaccine to persons between fourteen and seventeen years of age under certain conditions.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Ohana Health Plan, Walgreens, Times Supermarkets, Safeway, and HMSA.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Foodland Supermarkets, Ltd.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Pharmacy.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will increase access by minors to influenza vaccinations.  Your Committee also finds that a license with a longer validation period may lighten the burden for pharmacists authorized to administer influenza vaccines to minors, as such pharmacists must complete additional requirements, including additional educational requirements.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting language to require that pharmacists who administer the influenza vaccine to persons between fourteen to seventeen years of age shall renew the license that authorizes them to do so every four years;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to upon approval; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2229, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2229, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

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

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, M.D., Chair