2021 -- H 6016

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LC001851

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ESTABLISH

GUIDELINES AND PROTOCOL FOR ADMINISTERING VACCINES IN THE SAFEST

POSSIBLE METHOD TO PERSONS UNDERGOING IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE THERAPIES

     Introduced By: Representatives Fenton-Fung, and Casimiro

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2021

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     WHEREAS, Currently, individual state authorities are issuing the priority

recommendations that guide their state's distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. In Rhode Island,

that action is under the direction and leadership of the Department of Health; and

     WHEREAS, Expert medical groups are recommending that most patients with cancer or

a history of cancer should get a COVID-19 vaccine; however, the situation for every person is

different and includes the type of cancer a person has (had), if they are still being treated for

cancer, and if their immune system is working properly; and

     WHEREAS, According to the "interim guideline on vaccination for cancer patients"

issued by the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the vaccine is safe for use in cancer

patients, but in order to protect the fragile health of people undergoing various therapies

associated with cancer treatments, certain guidelines and procedures should be adhered to in order

to minimize the risk to these patients; and

     WHEREAS, These guidelines include general considerations for administering the

vaccines in the safest possible way, including limiting immunosuppressive therapy patients'

exposure to the general public and administering the vaccine at the optimal time in each patients'

treatment cycle; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

respectfully requests the Department of Health to establish guidelines and protocols for

administering vaccines in the safest possible method to persons undergoing immunosuppressive

therapies including distributing the vaccines through oncology clinics and coordinating the

optimal timing of vaccine administration with the patients treatment cycle; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Governor of the State of Rhode Island, and

Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health

(RIDOH).

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LC001851

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