The department, with the approval of the Governor, may, for the purpose of aiding in national defense in case of war or in any state emergency declared by the Governor under the Civil Defense Law, procure and distribute within the State, and sell or give away, in its discretion, antitoxins, serums, vaccines, viruses and analogous products applicable to the prevention or cure of disease of man. [1975, c. 771, §216 (AMD).]