The Department of Health and Human Services may participate in the national efforts described in sections 71-527 and 71-528 and may develop a statewide immunization action plan which is comprehensive in scope and reflects contributions from a broad base of providers and consumers. In order to implement the statewide immunization action plan, the department may:

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(1) Actively seek the participation and commitment of the public, health care professionals and facilities, the educational community, and community organizations in a comprehensive program to ensure that the state‘s children are appropriately immunized;

(2) Apply for and receive public and private awards to purchase vaccines and to administer a statewide comprehensive program;

(3) Provide immunization information and education to the public, parents, health care providers, and educators to establish and maintain a high level of awareness and demand for immunization by parents;

(4) Assist parents, health care providers, and communities in developing systems, including demonstration and pilot projects, which emphasize well-child care and the use of private practitioners and which improve the availability of immunization and improve management of immunization delivery so as to ensure the adequacy of the vaccine delivery system;

(5) Evaluate the effectiveness of these statewide efforts, conduct ongoing measurement of children’s immunization status, identify children at special risk for deficiencies in immunization, and report on the activities of the statewide immunization program annually to the Legislature and the citizens of Nebraska. The report submitted to the Legislature shall be submitted electronically;

(6) Recognize persons who volunteer their efforts towards achieving the goal of providing immunization of the children of Nebraska and in meeting the Healthy People 2000 objective of series-complete immunization coverage for ninety percent or more of United States children by their second birthday;

(7) Establish a statewide program to immunize Nebraska children from birth up to six years of age against measles, mumps, rubella, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, and haemophilus influenzae type B. The program shall serve children who are not otherwise eligible for childhood immunization coverage with medicaid or other federal funds or are not covered by private third-party payment; and

(8) Contract to provide vaccine under the statewide program authorized under subdivision (7) of this section without cost to health care providers subject to the following conditions:

(a) In order to receive vaccine without cost, health care providers shall not charge for the cost of the vaccine. Health care providers may charge a fee for the administration of the vaccine but may not deny service because of the parent’s or guardian‘s inability to pay such fee. Fees for administration of the vaccine shall be negotiated between the department and the health care provider, shall be uniform among participating providers, and shall be no more than the cost ceiling for the region in which Nebraska is included as set by the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services for the Vaccines for Children Program authorized by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993;

(b) Health care providers shall administer vaccines according to the schedule recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or by the American Academy of Pediatrics unless in the provider’s medical judgment, subject to accepted medical practice, such compliance is medically inappropriate; and

(c) Health care providers shall maintain records on immunizations as prescribed by this section for inspection and audit by the Department of Health and Human Services or the Auditor of Public Accounts, including responses by parents or guardians to simple screening questions related to payment coverage by public or private third-party payors, identification of the administration fee as separate from any other cost charged for other services provided at the same time the vaccination service is provided, and other information as determined by the department to be necessary to comply with subdivision (5) of this section. Such immunization records may also be used for information exchange as provided in sections 71-539 to 71-544.