State Immunization Laws for Healthcare
Workers and Patients

Immunization Administration Requirements
For State: DC

** Click on each result to read the abridged text of the state immunization law.

Patient Type Vaccine Requirement
Hospital Employees  Hepatitis B[1] No[62]
  Influenza[2] No[63]
  MMR[3] No[64]
  Varicella[4] No[65]
  Pneumococcal[5] No[66]
  Medical(M),Religious(R), or Philosophical(P) Exemptions[6] No 
Hospital Inpatients  Influenza[7] No 
  Pneumococcal[8] No 
  Medical(M),Religious(R), or Philosophical(P) Exemptions[9] No 
Individual Providers' Patients  Any Immunization[10] No 
  Medical(M),Religious(R), or Philosophical(P) Exemptions[11] No 
Ambulatory Care Facilities Employees  Any Immunization[12] Ensure[518]
  Medical(M),Religious(R), or Philosophical(P) Exemptions[13] No 
Ambulatory Care Facilities Patients  Any Immunization[14] No 
  Medical(M),Religious(R), or Philosophical(P) Exemptions[15] No 
Correctional Inmates and Residents  Any Immunization[16] Ensure[67]
  Medical(M),Religious(R), or Philosophical(P) Exemptions[17] No 
Developmentally Disabled Facility Residents  Any Immunization[18] Ensure[68]
  Medical(M),Religious(R), or Philosophical(P) Exemptions[19] No 
  []
[1] Does the jurisdiction require that any hospitals offer hepatitis B vaccine to any employees of the hospital, or ensure that any such employees are vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine?

[2] Does the jurisdiction require that any hospitals offer influenza vaccine to any employees of the hospital, or ensure that any such employees are vaccinated with influenza vaccine?

[3] Does the jurisdiction require that any hospitals offer measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine (or any component thereof) to any employees of the hospital, or ensure that any such employees are vaccinated with MMR vaccine?

[4] Does the jurisdiction require that any hospitals offer varicella vaccine to any employees of the hospital, or ensure that any such employees are vaccinated with varicella vaccine?

[5] Does the jurisdiction require that any hospitals offer pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine to any employees of the hospital, or ensure that any such employees are vaccinated with pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine?  Top of Page

[6] If any hospitals are required to ensure that any hospital employees are vaccinated with hepatitis B, influenza, MMR, varicella or pneumococcal vaccine, does the jurisdiction provide any medical, religious or philosophical exemptions to such administration requirements?

[7] Does the jurisdiction require that any hospitals offer any inpatients of the hospital influenza vaccine, or ensure that any inpatients are vaccinated with influenza vaccine?

[8] Does the jurisdiction require that any hospitals offer any inpatients of the hospital pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, or ensure that any inpatients are vaccinated with pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine?

[9] If any hospitals are required to ensure that any hospital inpatients are vaccinated with influenza or pneumococcal vaccines, does the jurisdiction provide any medical, religious or philosophical exemptions to such administration requirements?  Top of Page

[10] Does the jurisdiction require that any individual healthcare providers offer any vaccinations to any patients, or ensure that any patients are vaccinated with any vaccines?

[11] If any individual providers are required to ensure that any of their patients are vaccinated with any vaccines, does the jurisdiction provide any medical, religious or philosophical exemptions to such administration requirements?

[12] Does the jurisdiction require that any ambulatory care facilities offer any vaccinations to any employees, or ensure that any employees are vaccinated with any vaccines?

[13] If any ambulatory care facilities are required to ensure that any employees are vaccinated with any vaccines, does the jurisdiction provide any medical, religious or philosophical exemptions to such administration requirements?  Top of Page

[14] Does the jurisdiction require that any ambulatory care facilities offer any vaccinations to any patients, or ensure that any patients are vaccinated with any vaccines?

[15] If any ambulatory care facilities are required to ensure that any patients are vaccinated with any vaccines, does the jurisdiction provide for any medical, religious or philosophical exemptions to such administration requirements?

[16] Does the jurisdiction require that any correctional facilities or juvenile detention centers offer any vaccinations to any inmates or juveniles, or ensure that any inmates or juveniles are vaccinated with any vaccines?

[17] If any correctional centers or juvenile detention centers are required to ensure that any inmates or juveniles are vaccinated with any vaccines, does the jurisdiction provide for any medical, religious or philosophical exemptions to such administration requirements?  Top of Page

[18] Does the jurisdiction require that any residential facilities for the developmentally disabled or mentally retarded offer any residents any vaccinations, or ensure that any residents are vaccinated with any vaccines?

[19] If any residential facilities for the developmentally disabled or mentally retarded are required to ensure that any residents are vaccinated with any vaccines, does the jurisdiction provide for any medical, religious or philosophical exemptions to such administration requirements?

[62] For D.C., no regulation or statute specifically refers to vaccination against hepatitis B for hospital employees. However, note 22 DCMR § B2017.10, requiring that immunization against communicable disease shall be required of all employees and all other persons who routinely come into contact with patients or patient areas. This regulation only applies to those institutions meeting the definition of “hospital” set forth in 22 DCMR § 2099.

[63] For D.C., no regulation or statute specifically refers to vaccination against influenza for hospital employees. However, note 22 DCMR § B2017.10, requiring that immunization against communicable disease shall be required of all employees and all other persons who routinely come into contact with patients or patient areas. This regulation only applies to those institutions meeting the definition of “hospital” set forth in 22 DCMR § 2099.  Top of Page

[64] For D.C., no regulation or statute specifically refers to vaccination against measles, mumps, or rubella for hospital employees. However, note 22 DCMR § B2017.10, requiring that immunization against communicable disease shall be required of all employees and all other persons who routinely come into contact with patients or patient areas. This regulation only applies to those institutions meeting the definition of “hospital” set forth in 22 DCMR § 2099.

[65] For D.C., no regulation or statute specifically refers to vaccination against varicella for hospital employees. However, note 22 DCMR § B2017.10, requiring that immunization against communicable disease shall be required of all employees and all other persons who routinely come into contact with patients or patient areas. This regulation only applies to those institutions meeting the definition of “hospital” set forth in 22 DCMR § 2099.

[66] For D.C., no regulation or statute specifically refers to vaccination against pneumococcal disease for hospital employees. However, note 22 DCMR § B2017.10, requiring that immunization against communicable disease shall be required of all employees and all other persons who routinely come into contact with patients or patient areas. This regulation only applies to those institutions meeting the definition of “hospital” set forth in 22 DCMR § 2099.

[67] For D.C. requirements, see 29 DCMR § 6262, relating to “youth group homes.” 29 DCMR § 6262 requires the facility to cooperate with the contracting entity and, where applicable, the CSSD to meet the resident’s preventative, routine, and emergency health needs, including maintenance of required immunizations and booster shots recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. “Youth group homes” are defined in 29 DCMR § 6299 as facilities that provide 24-hour care for residents, and which maintain staff to provide supervision, guidance and recreation to their residents. 29 DCMR § 6299 identifies children in need of supervision as those children falling into 1 of the following 3 categories: (1) children who are subject to compulsory school attendance and who are habitually truant from school without justification; (2) a child who has committed an offense committable only by children; or, (3) a child who is habitually disobedient of the reasonable and lawful commands of his parent(s), guardian(s), or other custodian and is ungovernable. Based on the identity of those children served, this chart assumes that the definition of “youth group homes” includes juvenile detention centers.  Top of Page

[68] For D.C. requirements, see 29 DCMR § 6262, relating to “youth group homes.” 29 DCMR § 6262 requires the facility to cooperate with the contracting entity and, where applicable, the CSSD to meet the resident’s preventative, routine, and emergency health needs, including maintenance of required immunizations and booster shots recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. “Youth group homes” are a type of “youth residential facility”; “youth residential facilities” are defined in D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2101 as a residential placement providing adult supervision and care for 1 or more children unrelated to the operator or to any of the facility caregivers, and who were found to be in need of a special living arrangement as a result of a mental or physical handicap that requires more services than can be provided in a nonresidential program. Based on the characteristics of those individuals served by “youth residential facilities,” the chart assumes that the definition of “youth residential facilities,” and, by extension, “youth group homes,” includes residential facilities for the developmentally disabled and mentally retarded.

[518] For D.C. requirements, see 22 DCMR § 2615.6 and .9, relating to “maternity centers”. 22 DCMR § 2615.6 states that all personnel must have a pre-employment physical examination, including tuberculin testing, and demonstrate evidence of immunity to rubella or a rubella vaccination prior to employment. 22 DCMR § 2615.9 states that all maternity center personnel who are exposed to blood shall demonstrate evidence of full immunization against hepatitis B or documentation of refusal.

Disclaimer: The purpose of this database is to provide researchers, policymakers, and state and local public health practitioners with descriptive information concerning state immunization-related law. No part of this legal analysis involves providing legal advice or answering specific questions of law on behalf of any person or organization.

 

Page last reviewed: November 19, 2014