(a) In accordance with the latest recommendations of the advisory committee on immunization practices of the centers for disease control and prevention, each hospital shall between the dates of August 1 through March 31 and prior to patient discharge, provide to patients or inform patients where they can find educational information on influenza disease and the availability of a vaccine to protect against the influenza virus. The educational information shall include, but is not limited to, the causes and symptoms of influenza disease, the effectiveness and known contraindications of influenza immunizations and the means by which influenza is spread. This information shall be provided to all patients aged six (6) months and older and may be provided to a parent or legal guardian of patients aged six (6) months through eighteen (18) years of age.
Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
(b) Nothing in this section shall require any hospital to provide or pay for any vaccination against influenza.(c) This section shall also not constitute a requirement to be assessed during any inspection under chapter 11, part 2 of this title.
