24557507, 64JER21-7 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 24557507

Notice of Emergency Rule

Department:

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Division:

Division of Emergency Preparedness and Community Support

Overview

RULE:

64JER21-7

Paramedic and Emergency Medical Technician Administration of COVID-19 Vaccines

SPECIFIC REASONS FOR FINDING AN IMMEDIATE DANGER TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY OR WELFARE:

Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a severe acute respiratory illness that can spread among humans through respiratory transmission and presents with symptoms similar to those of influenza. COVID-19 is a communicable disease with significant morbidity and mortality. The Surgeon General has declared a statewide Public Health Emergency due to the spread of COVID-19. As a result, it presents an immediate, severe danger to public health that warrants an accelerated effort to administer COVID-19 vaccine using all available resources, including paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs).

REASON FOR CONCLUDING THAT THE PROCEDURE IS FAIR UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES:

COVID-19 presents a public health threat to the State of Florida. There is an immediate need to set forth procedures for the control of this communicable disease in the State of Florida; specifically, to facilitate the widespread administration of COVID-19 vaccines. Adoption of an emergency rule that permits certified paramedics and EMTs to administer COVID-19 vaccines under appropriate medical direction is fair under the current circumstances, which require immediate action to address the Public Health Emergency.

SUMMARY:

The Emergency Rule permits certified paramedics acting under medical direction to prepare and administer COVID-19 vaccines and to supervise EMTs in the administration of COVID-19 vaccines. The emergency rule permits certified EMTs acting under medical direction or acting under the supervision of a paramedic or other authorized health care practitioner to administer prepared COVID-19 vaccines. The rule requires that paramedics and EMTs complete training in COVID-19 vaccine administration and comply with established protocols.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE EMERGENCY RULE IS:

Melia Jenkins, Florida Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1722, (850) 558-9532, melia.jenkins@flhealth.gov.

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

5/18/2021 Vol. 47/96

OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE:

Joint Administrative Procedures Committee
Florida Administrative Law Central Online Network (F.A.L.C.O.N.)

RELATED COURT CASES:

Division of Administrative Hearings

FEDERAL eRULEMAKING
WEB PORTAL:

Regulations.gov

HOW TO LINK TO
THIS NOTICE:

http://flrules.org/gateway/ruleno.asp?id=64JER21-7&PDate=5/18/2021&Section=4

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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