Perdue gets authority to declare flu emergency

With concerns rising over the outbreak of swine flu, Gov. Sonny Perdue signed a bill Tuesday that gives him the power to declare a “pandemic influenza” state of emergency.

The bill was passed during the recently ended legislative session and did not specifically address swine flu.

The governor could make the declaration if the World Health Organization issues a Phase five Pandemic Alert for the United States or Georgia. Currently, the WHO rating stands at four.

The bill signed by Perdue also allows pharmacists and nurses to order and dispense flu vaccines if they’ve entered into an agreement with a physician. That removes the requirement that each person seeking a flu vaccine from a pharmacist or nurse would need an individual doctor’s prescription.

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