SENATE, No. 1215

By Mr. Shannon, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1215) of Charles E. Shannon, Paul J. Donato and Barbara A. L'Italien for legislation relative to immunizations. Public Health

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

In the Year Two Thousand and Five.

AN ACT RELATIVE TO IMMUNIZATIONS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1.

Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2002 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new section:--

            Section 200.  Immunizations

            Immunizations administered in the Commonwealth by the Department of Public Health or by any licensed medical professional shall not contain any mercury or other preservatives containing heavy metals including, but not limited to, thimerosal.  Any health benefit plan that provides coverage for immunizations shall provide the same coverage for immunizations not containing mercury or other preservatives containing heavy metals that was provided for immunizations containing mercury or other preservatives containing heavy metals immediately prior to the effective date of this act.