Page 696

House Bill No. 5506

Public Act No. 22-118 696 of 739

form, that is (I) recommended by the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, (II) made available to the department by the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and (III) equivalent, as determined by the commissioner, to the cost for vaccine series completion of comparable available licensed vaccines. (C) For purposes of subparagraphs (A)(ii) and (B)(ii) of this subdivision, "comparable" means a vaccine (i) protects a recipient against the same infection or infections, (ii) has similar safety and efficacy profiles, (iii) requires the same number of doses, and (iv) is recommended for similar populations by the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (D) On and after July 1, 2022, any health care provider that administers vaccines to children under the immunization program described in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision shall order such vaccines using the immunization information system in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health. (4) (A) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply in the event of a public health emergency, as defined in section 19a-131, or an attack, major disaster, emergency or disaster emergency, as those terms are defined in section 28-1. (B) Nothing in this subsection shall require a health care provider to procure a vaccine from the Department of Public Health when such provider is directed by said department to procure such vaccine from another source, including, but not limited to, during a declared national or state vaccine shortage. (C) Nothing in this subsection shall require a health care provider to utilize or administer a vaccine provided by said department if, based upon such provider's medical judgment, (i) administration of such