(a) As used in this section, “health care provider” means a person who has direct or supervisory responsibility for the administration of a vaccine or assessment of immunization status, including a physician or physician assistant licensed pursuant to chapter 370, a nurse-midwife licensed pursuant to chapter 377, an advanced practice registered nurse or registered nurse licensed pursuant to chapter 378, a pharmacist licensed pursuant to chapter 400j, or an individual authorized under the general statutes or federal law to administer a vaccine.
(b) The Commissioner of Public Health or the commissioner's designee shall establish and maintain an immunization information system for the purpose of assuring vaccine recipient's access to their immunization records. The immunization information system shall include such information as is necessary to accurately identify a vaccine recipient and to assess such recipient's current immunization status.
(c) Each health care provider who has administered a vaccine to a person in the state shall report, in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, information, which shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) the name and date of birth of the vaccine recipient, (2) the name and date of each vaccine dose given to the vaccine recipient, (3) any other information deemed necessary by the commissioner, and (4) when appropriate, contraindications or exemptions to administration of each vaccine dose. Each health care provider shall provide to a vaccine recipient, a vaccine recipient's court-appointed guardian or conservator, if applicable, or, in the case of a child who received a vaccine, such child's parent or guardian information regarding how such vaccine recipient or such child may decline enrollment in the immunization information system.
(d) Each health care provider intending to administer vaccines to any person may use the immunization information system to determine current information on the immunization status of such person for the purposes of determining whether such person requires immunizations, or to officially document immunization status to meet state child care, school or higher education immunization entry requirements pursuant to sections 10-204a, 10a-155, 19a-79 and 19a-87b and regulations adopted thereunder.
(e) Each school nurse who is required to verify the immunization status for children enrolled in prekindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive, at a public or private school in any town, city or school district pursuant to section 10-204a shall be provided with sufficient information on the children who live in the school nurse's jurisdiction and who are listed on the immunization information system to enable determination of which children are overdue for scheduled immunizations and to enable provision of outreach to assist in getting each such child vaccinated.
(f) The commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, shall provide the director of health of any municipality or health district with sufficient information on the persons who live in such director's jurisdiction and who are listed on the immunization information system in order to address undervaccinated communities and improve health equity.
(g) The commissioner may use the information in the immunization information system for the purposes set forth in sections 19a-25 and 19a-215 and the regulations promulgated pursuant to said sections. The commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, may exchange information in the immunization information system with federal agencies providing health care services and other states' immunization information systems for the purposes described in this section.
(h) The commissioner shall provide to a vaccine recipient, a vaccine recipient's court-appointed guardian or conservator, if applicable, or, in the case of a child who received a vaccine, such child's parent or guardian access to any information that was provided by a health care provider to the Department of Public Health through the immunization information system regarding such person's vaccination status upon request by such recipient, guardian, conservator, parent or guardian.
(i) Except as specified in subsections (b) to (h), inclusive, of this section, all personal information including vaccination status and dates of vaccination of persons shall be confidential pursuant to section 19a-25 and shall not be further disclosed without the authorization of the vaccine recipient, the vaccine recipient's court-appointed guardian or conservator, if applicable, or, in the case of a child who received a vaccine, such child's parent or guardian.
(j) The immunization information system shall comply with the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Immunization Information System Functional Standards, as amended from time to time.
(k) The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section, including, but not limited to, regulations specifying (1) how information on vaccinations and, when appropriate, contraindications or exemptions to administration of each vaccine dose, is reported in a timely manner to the immunization information system, (2) how information on the immunization information system is made available to persons authorized to receive such information pursuant to subsections (b) to (h), inclusive, of this section, and (3) how a vaccine recipient, a vaccine recipient's court-appointed guardian or conservator, if applicable, or, in the case of a child who received a vaccine, such child's parent or guardian may decline enrollment in the immunization information system.
(l) The commissioner shall, in consultation with the Office of Health Strategy, adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to facilitate interoperability between the immunization information system and the State-wide Health Information Exchange established pursuant to section 17b-59d. The commissioner may implement policies and procedures necessary to administer the provisions of this section while in the process of adopting such policies and procedures as regulations, provided the department posts such policies and procedures on the eRegulations System prior to adopting them. Policies and procedures implemented pursuant to this section shall be valid until regulations are adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.
(P.A. 94-90, S. 1; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 98-252, S. 35, 80; P.A. 08-184, S. 11; P.A. 14-231, S. 4; P.A. 22-118, S. 493.)
History: P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 98-252 made a technical change in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 08-184 amended Subsec. (c) by eliminating requirement that commissioner consult with state Childhood Immunization Advisory Council prior to adoption of regulations; P.A. 14-231 amended Subsecs. (b) and (c) by adding provisions re school nurse and making technical changes; P.A. 22-118 added new Subsec. (a) defining “health care provider”, substantially revised existing Subsecs. (a) to (c), including adding provisions re establishment of immunization information system, redesignated existing Subsec. (a) as Subsec. (b), redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c), designated existing provisions re health care provider use of information in existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (d), designated existing provisions re school nurse use of information in existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (e), added Subsec. (f) re commissioner's duty to provide information to directors of health, added Subsec. (g) re commissioner's use of information, added Subsec. (h) re commissioner's duty to provide information to vaccine recipient, guardian, conservator or parent, redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (i), added Subsec. (j) re compliance with National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Immunization Information System Functional Standards, designated existing provisions in existing Subsec. (c) re regulations as Subsec. (k), added Subsec. (l) re regulations to facilitate interoperability between immunization information system and State-wide Health Information Exchange and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 2022.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 19a - Public Health and Well-Being
Chapter 368a - Department of Public Health
Section 19a-2a. - Powers and duties.
Section 19a-4. (Formerly Sec. 19-2a). - Commissioner to organize department and adopt regulations.
Section 19a-4i. - Office of Injury Prevention.
Section 19a-4j. - Office of Health Equity.
Section 19a-4k. - Advisory Commission on Multicultural Health.
Section 19a-4l. - Office of Oral Public Health.
Section 19a-5. (Formerly Sec. 19-4). - Powers and duties of commissioner.
Section 19a-6d. - Tobacco abuse reduction and health plan.
Section 19a-6e. - Traumatic brain injury patient registry.
Section 19a-6f. - Listing of certified medical assistants.
Section 19a-6i. - School-based health center advisory committee. Members. Duties. Report.
Section 19a-6o. - Palliative Care Advisory Council. Duties. Members. Report.
Section 19a-6p. - School-based health centers. Hours. Services. Reimbursement for services.
Section 19a-6q. - Chronic disease plan.
Section 19a-6s. - Provision of vaccines by clinical medical assistants under supervision.
Section 19a-6t. - Connecticut Rare Disease Advisory Council. Duties. Members. Report.
Section 19a-6u. - School-based health center expansion grant program.
Section 19a-7b. - Health Care Access Commission.
Section 19a-7c. - Subsidized nongroup health insurance product for pregnant women.
Section 19a-7d. - Primary care direct services program.
Section 19a-7e. - Health care for uninsured pregnant women demonstration project.
Section 19a-7g. - Childhood Immunization Advisory Council.
Section 19a-7h. - Immunization information system. Regulations.
Section 19a-7i. - Extension of coverage under the maternal and child health block grant.
Section 19a-7k. - Preventive dental care pilot program.
Section 19a-7o. - Hepatitis C and HIV-related testing.
Section 19a-7p. - Public health fee. Annual reporting requirement. Appeal. Penalties. Overpayment.
Section 19a-7s. - Evaluation of data re exemptions from immunization requirements. Report.
Section 19a-7u. - Pilot program to expand behavioral health care. Grants.
Section 19a-12c. - Professional assistance program account.
Section 19a-13. (Formerly Sec. 19-4n). - Regulated professions; definitions.
Section 19a-14. (Formerly Sec. 19-4o). - Powers of department concerning regulated professions.
Section 19a-14a. - Professional licenses. Investigations and disciplinary action.
Section 19a-14b. - Radon mitigators, diagnosticians and testing companies. Regulations.
Section 19a-14c. - Provision of outpatient mental health treatment to minors.
Section 19a-16e. - Scope of practice review committees. Membership. Duties.
Section 19a-16f. - Report to General Assembly on scope of practice review processes.
Section 19a-17. (Formerly Sec. 19-4s). - Disciplinary action by department, boards and commissions.
Section 19a-17a. - Review of medical malpractice awards and certain settlements.
Section 19a-17m. - Malpractice insurance purchase program.
Section 19a-17n. - Malpractice insurance purchase program. Regulations. Limitations.
Section 19a-18. (Formerly Sec. 19-4t). - Meaning of term “licensed” for insurance purposes.
Section 19a-19. (Formerly Sec. 19-4u). - Regulation of business practices.
Section 19a-21. (Formerly Sec. 19-4w). - Disposition of licensing fees.
Section 19a-22. (Formerly Sec. 19-4x). - Actions by department, boards and commissions; appeals.
Section 19a-23. (Formerly Sec. 19-4y). - Boards and commissions; records.
Section 19a-25a. - Regulations re electronic signatures for medical records.
Section 19a-25b. - Electronic prescribing systems authorized.
Section 19a-25c. - Medical records systems: Electronic and paper formats authorized.
Section 19a-25e. - Connecticut Health Information Network plan.
Section 19a-27. (Formerly Sec. 19-7a). - Test for rubella immunity. Regulations.
Section 19a-28. (Formerly Sec. 19-8). - Toxicology laboratory.
Section 19a-29. (Formerly Sec. 19-9). - Special laboratories.
Section 19a-29a. - Environmental laboratories.
Section 19a-31a. - Microbiological and biomedical biosafety laboratories.
Section 19a-32. (Formerly Sec. 19-10). - Department authorized to receive gifts.
Section 19a-32a. - AIDS research education account. Regulations.
Section 19a-32b. - Breast cancer research and education account.
Section 19a-32n. - Information and education re umbilical cord blood collection programs.
Section 19a-32o. - Short title: Connecticut Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program Act.
Section 19a-32p. - Legislative findings and declaration of policy.
Section 19a-32q. - Connecticut Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Board. Membership. Meetings.
Section 19a-32r. - Board to establish and administer umbilical cord blood collection program.
Section 19a-32t. - Umbilical cord blood collection account.
Section 19a-32u. - Copies of independent audits to be submitted to General Assembly.
Section 19a-32v. - Reports to Governor and General Assembly.
Section 19a-33. (Formerly Sec. 19-10a). - Regulation of traffic at department facilities.
Section 19a-36a. - Regulations concerning food operators.
Section 19a-36g. - Food code. Definitions.
Section 19a-36j. - Food inspectors. Certification. Inspections.
Section 19a-36k. - Food-borne illness or outbreak. Investigation.
Section 19a-36l. - Inspection violations. Appeal process.
Section 19a-37h. - Water companies to provide multilingual tier 1 notices.
Section 19a-38. (Formerly Sec. 19-13b). - Water company to add fluoride to water supply.
Section 19a-39. (Formerly Sec. 19-13c). - Protection of wells.
Section 19a-40. (Formerly Sec. 19-14). - Supervision of vital statistics.
Section 19a-41. (Formerly Sec. 19-15). - Compilation of vital records and statistics. Regulations.
Section 19a-42. (Formerly Sec. 19-15a). - Amendment of vital records.
Section 19a-43. (Formerly Sec. 19-15b). - Reproduction of vital records.
Section 19a-44. (Formerly Sec. 19-15c). - Matching of birth and death certificates.
Section 19a-45b. - Medical home pilot program.
Section 19a-45c. - Evaluation and report required re medical home pilot program.
Section 19a-46. (Formerly Sec. 19-17). - Expert examinations and inspections.
Section 19a-48. (Formerly Sec. 19-19). - Care for children with cerebral palsy.
Section 19a-49. (Formerly Sec. 19-19a). - Services for persons with cystic fibrosis.
Section 19a-51. (Formerly Sec. 19-20a). - Pediatric Cardiac Patient Care Fund.
Section 19a-54. (Formerly Sec. 19-21a). - Registration of children with special health care needs.
Section 19a-54a. - Registry of data on infants exposed to AIDS medication.
Section 19a-55a. - Newborn screening account.
Section 19a-55b. - Information on newborn infant safe sleep practices.
Section 19a-56. (Formerly Sec. 19-21c). - Program for prevention of erythroblastosis.
Section 19a-57. (Formerly Sec. 19-21d). - Loans for purchase of hemodialysis treatment machines.
Section 19a-58. (Formerly Sec. 19-21e). - Pamphlet concerning hearing impairments in infants.
Section 19a-59. - Program to identify infants who are hard of hearing.
Section 19a-59b. - Maternal and child health protection program.
Section 19a-59e. - Media campaign for the reduction of adolescent pregnancies.
Section 19a-59h. - Maternal mortality review program. Confidentiality of information.
Section 19a-59i. - Maternal mortality review committee.
Section 19a-60. (Formerly Sec. 19-22). - Dental services for children.
Section 19a-60a. - Dental services for children of low-income families.
Section 19a-61. (Formerly Sec. 19-22b). - Services for children suffering from diabetes.
Section 19a-62. (Formerly Sec. 19-22c). - Services for children suffering from cancer.
Section 19a-69. (Formerly Sec. 19-27). - Distribution of biologic products.
Section 19a-70. (Formerly Sec. 19-28). - Priority of distribution in emergency.
Section 19a-71. (Formerly Sec. 19-29). - Observation and treatment of certain typhoid germ carriers.
Section 19a-72a. - State-wide stroke registry.
Section 19a-73a. - Establishment of comprehensive cancer plan for state.
Section 19a-73b. - Funding sources for comprehensive cancer program.
Section 19a-74. (Formerly Sec. 19-30). - Cancer.
Section 19a-75. (Formerly Sec. 19-30b). - State aid for health career educational programs.
Section 19a-77. - “Child care services” defined. Exclusions. Additional license.
Section 19a-77a. - Child day care services in retail stores.
Section 19a-79. (Formerly Sec. 19-43d). - Regulations. Exemptions. Waivers.
Section 19a-79a. - Pesticide applications at child care facilities.
Section 19a-80g. - Child care center waiting list fees and deposits.
Section 19a-80h. - Enrollment of certain children in preschool programs.
Section 19a-81. (Formerly Sec. 19-43f). - Hearing on denial of license.
Section 19a-83. (Formerly Sec. 19-43h). - Reports of licensees.
Section 19a-85. (Formerly Sec. 19-43j). - Appeal.
Section 19a-86. (Formerly Sec. 19-43k). - Injunction against illegal operation.
Section 19a-86a. - Accepting voluntary surrender of license as resolution of disciplinary action.
Section 19a-86b. - Validity of license during investigation or disciplinary action.
Section 19a-86c. - Failure to provide written notice of proposed closure. Penalty.
Section 19a-87g. - Notification of emergency situations to licensees of day care centers.
Section 19a-88a. - Regulations concerning retired nurses.
Section 19a-88c. - Regulations re retired dentists.
Section 19a-89. (Formerly Sec. 19-46). - Change of office or residence address.
Section 19a-89a. - Database on nursing personnel.
Section 19a-89b. - Fees for pool design guidelines and food compliance guide.
Section 19a-89c. - Auricular acupuncture pilot program.
Section 19a-89d. - Nurse staffing and patient care data.
Section 19a-89e. - Development of prospective nurse staffing plan by hospitals. Report.
Section 19a-90. (Formerly Sec. 19-47). - Blood testing of pregnant women for syphilis and HIV.
Section 19a-92a. - Regulation of persons engaged in tattooing. Penalty.
Section 19a-92g. - Body piercing.
Section 19a-102. (Formerly Sec. 19-59a). - Regulation of sale of turtles.
Section 19a-102a. - Regulation of sale of turtles.
Section 19a-102b. - Importation of turtles.
Section 19a-103. (Formerly Sec. 19-60). - Control of communicable diseases in institutions.
Section 19a-104. (Formerly Sec. 19-61). - Sale of rags to be used as wiping cloths; cleaning.
Section 19a-105. (Formerly Sec. 19-62). - Public toilets.
Section 19a-106. (Formerly Sec. 19-62a). - “Restroom” defined.
Section 19a-106a. - Customer access to employee restrooms in retail establishments.
Section 19a-107. (Formerly Sec. 19-63). - Towels in hotels and public lavatories.
Section 19a-108. (Formerly Sec. 19-64). - Common drinking cups.
Section 19a-110a. - Regional lead poisoning treatment centers.
Section 19a-111a. - Lead poisoning prevention program. Lead state agency.
Section 19a-111c. - Abatement of lead in dwellings. List of encapsulant products. Regulations.
Section 19a-111d. - Regulations.
Section 19a-111e. - Federal funds for lead poisoning prevention programs.
Section 19a-111g. - Pediatric lead testing and risk assessment. Exemption.
Section 19a-111h. - Review of lead poisoning data. Regulations.
Section 19a-111i. - Report re lead poisoning prevention efforts.
Section 19a-111k. - Applicability of OSHA standards to abatement and remediation of lead hazards.
Section 19a-111l. - Guidelines on mold abatement protocols.
Section 19a-112b. - Services to victims of sexual acts.
Section 19a-112c. - Educational materials for sexual assault victims.
Section 19a-112d. - Sexual assault victims account.
Section 19a-112g. - Sexual assault forensic examiners. Responsibilities.
Section 19a-112h. - Financial assistance for victims of sexual assault.
Section 19a-112i. - Community gun violence intervention and prevention program.
Section 19a-113a. - Cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification of lifeguards.
Section 19a-115. (Formerly Sec. 19-66f). - Regulation of medical test units.
Section 19a-116. (Formerly Sec. 19-66g). - Regulation of facilities which offer abortion services.
Section 19a-121. - HIV and AIDS: Grant program.
Section 19a-121a. - AIDS: Funding to local health departments.
Section 19a-121b. - Regulations.
Section 19a-121c. - HIV and AIDS: Public information program.
Section 19a-121d. - Grants for mass mailing of report on AIDS.
Section 19a-122. - Hospice care for the homeless.
Section 19a-122a. - Hospice care for the homeless. Termination of pilot program.
Section 19a-123. - Nursing pool: Definition.
Section 19a-123b. - Nursing pool: Written agreement with health care institution.
Section 19a-123c. - Regulation of rates charged by nursing pools.
Section 19a-123d. - Aggrievement. Penalties.
Section 19a-124. - Syringe services programs.
Section 19a-124a. - Donation of vans to entities operating needle exchange programs.
Section 19a-125. - Adolescent Health Council.
Section 19a-127l. - Quality of care program. Quality of Care Advisory Committee.
Section 19a-127o. - Patient safety organizations.
Section 19a-127p. - Requirement for hospitals to contract with patient safety organization.
Section 19a-131. - Public health emergency response authority. Definitions.
Section 19a-131a. - Declaration of public health emergency by Governor.
Section 19a-131b. - Orders of quarantine or isolation. Appeal of order. Hearing.
Section 19a-131c. - Enforcement of order of quarantine or isolation.
Section 19a-131d. - Entry into quarantine or isolation premises.
Section 19a-131e. - Orders of vaccination. Appeal of order. Hearing.
Section 19a-131f. - Authorization to administer vaccinations.
Section 19a-131g. - Public Health Preparedness Advisory Committee.
Section 19a-131h. - Registration of deaths.
Section 19a-131i. - Immunity from personal liability.
Section 19a-131k. - Mandatory distribution of potassium iodide.
Section 19a-133. - Declaration of racism as a public health crisis.
Section 19a-133a. - Commission on Racial Equity in Public Health. Membership. Powers and duties.
Section 19a-133d. - Educational materials re pulse oximeters.