Notice of Emergency Rule

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Division of Disease Control

RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:

64DER21-9 COVID-19 Vaccine Reporting Requirements

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. As a result, it presents a severe danger to public health. Access to immunization and vaccine administration data is critical to the government response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. In furtherance of state and federal government response efforts, the Florida Department of Health, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) seek to obtain and utilize data from COVID-19 vaccine data sources, including the Florida Department of Health's immunization information system (IIS), in order to rapidly assess patterns of vaccination among the population; identify pockets of undervaccination; assist in determining vaccine resource allocation; monitor vaccine effectiveness and safety; assess spectrum of illness, disease burden, and risk factors for severe disease and outcomes; and help to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the healthcare system and communities. Reporting the administration of COVID-19 vaccines to individuals in Florida is paramount to controlling this communicable disease and for reporting to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Therefore, there is an immediate need to adopt rules setting forth the procedures for continued reporting of vaccine administration in order to control the spread of COVID-19 to protect the health, safety, and welfare of Florida's citizens.

REASON FOR CONCLUDING THAT THE PROCEDURE IS FAIR UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES: COVID-19 presents a public health threat to the state of Florida. The Surgeon General has declared a statewide Public Health Emergency due to the spread of COVID-19. There is an immediate need to set forth procedures for the continued reporting of vaccine administration in the effort to control this communicable disease in the State of Florida.

SUMMARY: Emergency rule 64DER21-9 sets forth the reporting requirements for all practitioners and other enrolled COVID-19 vaccine providers administering COVID-19 vaccines.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE EMERGENCY RULE IS: Carina Blackmore, Florida Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1703, (850)245-4732.

THE FULL TEXT OF THE EMERGENCY RULE IS:

THIS RULE TAKES EFFECT UPON BEING FILED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE UNLESS A LATER TIME AND DATE IS SPECIFIED IN THE RULE.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 11, 2021