When a mayor, county board chair, or legal successor to such official has declared a local emergency under section 12.29 or the governor has declared an emergency under section 12.31, subdivision 1 or 2, or a community health board or its appointed agent under chapter 145A has requested the commissioner's assistance in response to an event threatening public health in its jurisdiction, the commissioner of health may authorize any person, including, but not limited to, any person licensed or otherwise credentialed under chapters 144E, 147 to 148, 150A, 151, 153, or 156, to administer vaccinations or dispense legend drugs if the commissioner determines that such action is necessary to protect the health and safety of the public. The authorization shall be in writing and shall contain the categories of persons included in the authorization, any additional training required before performance of the vaccination or drug dispensing by such persons, any supervision required for performance of the vaccination or drug dispensing, and the duration of the authorization. The commissioner may, in writing, extend the scope and duration of the authorization as the emergency warrants. Any person authorized by the commissioner under this section shall not be subject to criminal liability, administrative penalty, professional discipline, or other administrative sanction for good faith performance of the vaccination or drug dispensing duties assigned according to this section.
History:2005 c 149 s 6; 2009 c 41 s 5; 2015 c 21 art 1 s 109