O'Malley emergency order allows paramedics to give swine vaccine

Gov. Martin O'Malley issued an emergency order Friday to help speed immunizations once more swine flu vaccine is available in Maryland.

The order allows paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and cardiac rescue personnel to give shots to the general public. Before, they could give them to each other under some circumstances.

The emergency order is essentially a bureaucratic necessity and isn't as alarming as it might sound. Maryland and other communities are ramping up for what they hope will be plentiful supplies of vaccine later this month.

They don't want long lines because of scant supplies to be replaced by long lines because there aren't enough people to give shots.

The order also gives Maryland's Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, John M. Colmers, the power to add "additional categories of health care providers" to the list of those who can vaccinate.

By Michael Laris |  November 6, 2009; 1:58 PM ET  | Category:  Health Care , Michael Laris
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