R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-76-3: Protection of public.

The director of the department of health shall develop and adopt by rule and regulation a plan to protect the public health during a vaccine shortage by:

(1) Establishing guidelines for physicians, nurses, hospitals, health systems, pharmacies and others that hold vaccines for the distribution and administration of vaccines. The guidelines shall include, but are not limited to, a definition of high-risk groups for priority protection or treatment in the event a vaccine shortage is imminent;

(2) Implementing rules for imposing a civil penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) against persons who knowingly violate the guidelines for each repeat violation of the guidelines;

(3) Mobilizing public and private health resources to assist in vaccine distribution and administration; and

(4) Notifying health professional regulatory boards and licensing authorities of repeated violations of the guidelines by health professionals regulated by the department of health.