R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-76-2: Determination of need.

Upon a determination by the director of the department of health that there is clear evidence that adverse and avoidable health outcomes from a preventable and acute communicable disease are expected to affect identifiable categories of high-risk individuals throughout Rhode Island and that assistance with the administration of vaccine is warranted due to a vaccine shortage to protect or treat those individuals, the director shall be authorized to implement the provisions contained in this chapter.