Vaccine Administration Protection Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

MURIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
February 25, 2026
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 504
Washington, D.C. 20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
Enclosed for consideration and approval by the Council of the District of Columbia are the
“Vaccine Administration Protection Emergency Amendment Act of 2026,” the “Vaccine
Administration Protection Temporary Amendment Act of 2026,” the Vaccine Administration
Protection Amendment Act of 2026,” and the accompanying emergency declaration resolution.
This legislation protects District healthcare providers seeking to provide access to safe and
effective vaccines to District residents, and the organizations that employ them.
If enacted, the proposed legislation would amend D.C. Official Code § 7-401 to ensure
healthcare providers are not held liable for any injury caused by the prescribing, dispensing,
ordering, furnishing, or administering of eligible vaccines or other immunizing agents. These
include ones required by law or recommended by leading medical and public health entities.
This legislation protects healthcare providers so that they may administer vaccines to the
District’s residents and visitors, thus promoting public health and safety within the District.
I urge the Council to take prompt and favorable action at your earliest convenience.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact Dr. Ayanna Bennett, Director of
the Department of Health at (202) 442-5955.
Sincerely,
Muriel Bowser

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at the request of the Mayor
A BILL
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To amend, on a temporary basis, An Act To relieve physicians of liability for negligent medical
treatment at the scene of an accident in the District of Columbia to establish protection
from liability for persons authorized to administer vaccines in the District of Columbia,
and the entities for which they work, for certain claims arising from or related to the
administration of such vaccines in the District of Columbia .
25 BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
26 act may be cited as the "Vaccine Administration Protection Temporary Amendment Act of
27 2026".
28 Sec. 2. An Act To relieve physicians ofliability for negligent medical treatment at the
29 scene of an accident in the District of Columbia, approved November 8, 1965 (79 Stat. 1302;
30 D.C. Official Code§ 7-401 et seq.), is amended by adding a new section 5, to read as follows:
31 "Sec. 5. Limitation on liability for administering vaccinations.
32 No licensed, certified, or registered health professional authorized to prescribe, dispense,
33 order, furnish, or administer vaccines, or the entity employing or contracting with such
34 professional, shall be liable in civil damages for any act or omission not constituting willful
35 misconduct or gross negligence resulting from the prescribing, dispensing, ordering, furnishing,
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or administering of a vaccine or other immunizing agent, including the residual effects of the 36
vaccine or immunizing agent, if the prescribing, dispensing, ordering, furnishing, or 37
administering of the vaccine or other immunizing agent is authorized by District law, accords 38
with official guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Protection or the 39
Department of Health, or is recommended by a recognized medical or public health organization 40
designated by the Director of the Department of Health pursuant to sections 2 and 3 of the 41
Community Health Amendment Temporary Act of 2025, effective December 11, 2025 (D.C. 42
Law 26-60; D.C. Official Code §§ 3-1201.02(11)(A), 3-1207.55 (a-1) and 7-1653.01).” 43
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 44
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Chief Financial Officer as the fiscal 45
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 46
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 47
Sec. 4. Effective date. 48
(a) This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by 49
the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto) and a 30-day period of congressional review 50
as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 51
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)). 52
(b) This act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect. 53
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