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<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="18-404" title_number="18" title_name="Disease Prevention" subtitle_number="4">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Employee” means an individual employed full–time or part–time directly, through contract with another entity, or as an independent contractor, by a related institution.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Medically contraindicated” means that a medical treatment is potentially detrimental to the health of the individual intended to be treated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Related institution” has the meaning provided under § 19–301 of this article.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to subsection (e) of this section, each related institution in the State shall immunize residents against the influenza virus and pneumococcal disease.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Subject to subsection (e) of this section, each related institution in the State shall immunize employees against the influenza virus.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Before an immunization under this section is administered, the related institution shall obtain written consent to administer the immunization from:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The resident or employee receiving the immunization; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The legal guardian of the resident receiving the immunization.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Each related institution shall conduct the immunizations required under subsection (b) of this section:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>In accordance with the recommendations established by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Process of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that are in effect at the time the related institution conducts the immunizations; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>By December 1 of each year that the immunization is required.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>A related institution that accepts an individual as a new resident or accepts an individual as a new employee after December 1 but before April 1 shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Determine the individual’s status for immunization as required under subsection (b) of this section; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If necessary, provide or arrange for an immunization as required under subsection (b) of this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>A resident or employee is not required to receive a vaccine under this section if:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The vaccine is medically contraindicated for the resident or employee;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The vaccine is against the resident’s or employee’s religious beliefs; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>After being fully informed by the related institution of the health risks associated with not receiving a vaccine, the resident or employee refuses the vaccine.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Each related institution shall document the annual immunization against influenza virus and immunization against pneumococcal disease received by each resident in the resident’s medical record.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Each related institution shall document the annual immunization against influenza virus received by each employee in the employee’s personnel file.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If a resident or employee refuses to be immunized as required under subsection (b) of this section, the related institution shall document the refusal and the reason for the refusal.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>Each related institution shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Notify each prospective resident and each prospective employee of the immunization requirements of this section and request that the resident or employee agree to be immunized in accordance with subsection (b)(3) of this section; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Make available to all residents and employees of the related institution educational and informational materials relating to immunization against influenza virus and immunization against pneumococcal disease.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
