State Immunization Laws for Healthcare
Workers and Patients

Immunization Administration Requirements
For State: WA

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

Patient Type	Vaccine	Requirement
Hospital Employees	Hepatitis B[1]	Offer[290]
	Influenza[2]	No
	MMR[3]	No
	Varicella[4]	No
	Pneumococcal[5]	No
	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]	Offer[291]
	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[292]
	Medical(M),Religious(R), or Philosophical(P) Exemptions[17]	No
Developmentally Disabled Facility Residents	Any Immunization[18]	Ensure[293]
	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?
[290] For Washington requirements, see Wash. Admin. Code § 296-823-13005 and Wash. Admin. Code § 296-823-130, relating to occupational exposure. Wash. Admin. Code § 296-823-13005 provides that employers must ensure that the hepatitis B vaccine series is available to all employees who have occupational exposure and that it is made available at no cost to the employee, the vaccine series is provided in accordance with the recommendations of the United States Public Health Service that are current at the time these evaluations and procedures take place, and the vaccine series is made available to any employee who initially declines the vaccination but later decides to accept while still covered under this chapter. Note that the administration requirements are inapplicable under the following circumstances: (1) the employee has previously received the complete hepatitis B vaccination series; (2) an antibody test has revealed that the employee is immune to hepatitis B; or (3) there are medical reasons not to give the vaccine. Moreover, employers are not required to provide the hepatitis B vaccine series to employees assigned to provide first aid only as a secondary duty, when they make hepatitis B vaccine available to all unvaccinated first-aid providers who render their assistance in any situation involving the presence of blood or other potentially infectious materials. Wash. Admin. Code § 296-823-130 provides that employers must make hepatitis B vaccine available to employees.
[291] For Washington requirements, see Wash. Admin. Code § 246-329-110 (2007), relating to childbirth centers. Wash. Admin. Code § 246-329-110(1)(f)(ii) provides that birth centers must provide or offer to employees Hepatitis B vaccination according to Wash. Admin. Code § 296-62-08001. See also Wash. Admin. Code § 296-823-13005 relating to occupational exposure. Wash. Admin. Code § 296-823-13005 provides that employers must ensure that the hepatitis B vaccine series is available to all employees who have occupational exposure and that it is made available at no cost to the employee, the vaccine series is provided in accordance with the recommendations of the United States Public Health Service that are current at the time these evaluations and procedures take place, and the vaccine series is made available to any employee who initially declines the vaccination but later decides to accept while still covered under this chapter.	Top of Page
[292] For Washington requirements, see Wash. Admin. Code § 137-91-080, relating to “adult correctional institutions.” Wash. Admin. Code § 137-91-080 requires the health care program operated by the department of corrections to include immunizations, as indicated.
[293] For Washington requirements, see Wash. Admin. Code § 388-148-0340, relating to “group care facilities” and “staffed residential homes.” Wash. Admin. Code § 388-148-0340 provides that children must have proof of current immunizations. Facilities may accept a child who has not received all immunizations on a conditional basis if immunizations are started as soon as medically possible. Wash. Admin. Code § 388-148-0010 defines a “group care facility” as a location maintained and operated for a group of children on a twenty-four-hour basis. Wash. Admin. Code § 388-148-0010 defines a “staffed residential home” as a licensed home providing twenty-four-hour care for six or fewer children or expectant mothers. The home may employ staff to care for children or expectant mothers. It may or may not be a family residence. Based on a plain reading of the definitional language, this chart assumes that the definition of “group care facilities” and “staffed residential homes” covers residential facilities for the developmentally disabled and mentally retarded.

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.