6 Colo. Code Regs. § 1009-1 Regulation 8

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, June 10, 2024

Regulation Regulation 8 - Reporting of Diseases Among Animals and Waiver Process for Rabies Inoculation

A. Every veterinarian, livestock owner, veterinary diagnostic laboratory director, or other person having the care of, or knowledge of, the existence of animals having or suspected of having any disease which may endanger public health such as rabies, anthrax, plague, tularemia, encephalitis, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, coronaviruses that cause novel or severe human disease, including SARS-CoV-2, etc., shall promptly report the facts to the Department or county, district, or municipal public health agency.

B. Pursuant to § 25-4-607(2), C.R.S., a veterinarian licensed in Colorado may issue a written waiver, as provided in this section, exempting an animal from a rabies vaccination order if the veterinarian, in his or her professional opinion, determines the rabies inoculation is contraindicated due to the animal's medical condition. The terms "waiver" and "exemption" as used in this section are interchangeable. A veterinarian may issue a waiver if:

(1) The animal to be exempted has a medical condition defined as "a disease, illness, or other pathological state" for which, in the opinion of the exempting veterinarian, a rabies inoculation is contraindicated;

(2) A valid veterinary-client-patient relationship, as defined under § 12-64-103 (15.5), C.R.S., has been established between the veterinarian, owner and animal to be exempted from rabies inoculation;

(3) The veterinarian completes and signs the veterinary section of the Exemption from Rabies Vaccination form provided by the Department;

(4) The animal owner signs the informed consent section of the Exemption from Rabies Vaccination form;

(5) The veterinarian maintains the signed exemption as part of the animal's medical record and provides a copy to the owner;

(6) The exemption issued is limited to the anticipated duration of the animal's medical condition that precludes inoculation; and

(7) The veterinarian provides a copy of the exemption form to the Department or county, district, or municipal public health agency or animal control agency, when requested.

C. A waiver may not exceed a period of three years from the date of issuance. If the medical condition persists beyond a three year period and, in the professional opinion of a veterinarian licensed in Colorado, the exemption continues to be appropriate, a new waiver may be issued.

D. Upon receiving a complaint regarding the validity of a rabies inoculation exemption, the executive director or his/her designee(s) may review Exemption from Rabies Vaccination forms and examine the veterinary records pertaining to the medical condition to determine if the medical condition legitimately contraindicates rabies inoculation. If appropriate, the executive director or his/her designee(s) may refer the case to the Board of Veterinary Medicine.

6 CCR 1009-1 Regulation 8

37 CR 18, September 25, 2014, effective 10/15/2014

38 CR 20, October 25, 2015, effective 11/14/2015

40 CR 08, April 25, 2017, effective 5/15/2017

41 CR 12, June 25, 2018, effective 7/15/2018

42 CR 10, May 25, 2019, effective 7/1/2019

44 CR 18, September 25, 2021, effective 10/15/2021

46 CR 06, March 25, 2023, effective 2/15/2023

46 CR 10, May 25, 2023, effective 6/14/2023