(a) Any manufacturer or distributor of the influenza vaccine, or nonprofit health care service plan that exclusively contracts with a single medical group in a specified geographic area to provide, or to arrange for the provision of, medical services to its enrollees, shall report the information described in subdivision (c) relating to the supply of the influenza vaccine to the department upon notice from the department.
(b) Within each county or city health jurisdiction, entities that have possession of, or have a legal right to obtain possession of, the influenza vaccine, or entities that are conducting or intend to conduct influenza clinics for the public, their residents, or their employees, except those entities described in subdivision (a), shall cooperate with the local health officer in determining local inventories of influenza vaccine, including providing inventory, orders, and distribution lists in a timely manner, when necessary.
(c) The information reported pursuant to subdivision (a) shall include, but is not limited to, the amount of the influenza vaccine that has been shipped, and the name, address, and, if applicable, the telephone number of the recipient.
(d) Subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) do not apply to a physician and surgeon practice, unless the practice is an occupational health provider who conducts influenza vaccination campaigns on behalf of a corporation.
(e) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this section to assist small physician and surgeon practices, nursing facilities, and other health care providers that provide care for patients at risk of illness or death from influenza by facilitating the sharing of vaccine supplies, if necessary, between providers within a local jurisdiction.
(f) If a business believes that the information required by this section involves the release of a trade secret, the business shall nevertheless disclose the information to the department, and shall notify the department in writing of that belief at the time of disclosure. As used in this section, “trade secret” has the meanings given to it by Section 6254.7 of the Government Code and Section 1061 of the Evidence Code. Any information, including identifying information, including, but not limited to, the name of the agent or contact person of an entity that receives the influenza vaccine from a manufacturer or distributor, or nonprofit health care service plan described in subdivision (a), and the receiving entity’s address and telephone number, that is reported pursuant to this section shall not be disclosed by the department to anyone, except to an officer or employee of the county, city, city and county, or the state in connection with the official duties of that officer or employee to protect the public health.
(Added by renumbering Section 120155 (as amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 130, Sec. 174) by Stats. 2015, Ch. 303, Sec. 347. (AB 731) Effective January 1, 2016.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018