State Representatives Anne Gonzales (R-Westerville) and Kristina Daley Roegner (R-Hudson) have announced that the Ohio House of Representatives today passed House Bill 244, which permits authorized paramedics to administer immunizations for influenza to firefighters or emergency medical technicians.

Under current Ohio law, local fire and EMS departments need to hire contractors to provide the immunizations. H.B. 244 provides an option that fire and EMS departments currently do not have, which will offer increased flexibility for scheduling purposes as well as cost savings.

“House Bill 244 will allow fire departments to run more cost effectively, while also enhancing public safety within our communities,” Rep. Gonzales said.

In the House Health and Aging Committee, Columbus Division of Fire Medical Director David Keseg testified in support of H.B. 244, saying that this legislation will decrease the spread of influenza from EMS providers to the public they serve. Further, he noted that paramedics are already trained to administer flu immunizations, but the current legal authority to do this was limited.

"I am delighted that the Ohio House passed House Bill 244, a common-sense bill that not only provides cost savings and scheduling flexibility for local fire departments and paramedics, but also should protect the public, whom they serve, from contracting the flu," said Rep. Roegner.

H.B. 244 passed unanimously and will now be sent to the Senate for further consideration.