State Immunization Laws for Healthcare
Workers and Patients

Please choose one:

For more details on methods and data limitations

Definitions:

Hospital

A hospital was defined as an institution whose primary function is to provide inpatient services, diagnostic and therapeutic, for a variety of medical conditions, both surgical and non-surgical, on a 24 hour a day basis.

Ambulatory Care Facility

An ambulatory care facility was defined as a freestanding medical clinic or medical care facility that provides a variety of healthcare services in a centralized facility. These services may include preventative care, acute care, specialized services, laboratory services, surgery, outpatient care, etc., and are provided to persons who come to the facility to receive services and depart from the facility on the same day.

Provider

An individual health care provider was defined as a licensed health care professional.

Assessment requirements

An assessment requirement was identified if any included facility is required to assess the immunization status of any HCW/patient or screen for any vaccine-preventable disease

Administration requirement

Administration requirements were divided into "offer"(optional vaccination) and "ensure"(mandatory vaccination) laws. An offer law was identified if the facility is required to offer or make available any vaccine to any HCW/patient. An ensure law was identified if the facility is required to arrange for vaccination of, or make certain that any HCW/patient has been vaccinated against, any vaccine-preventable disease, unless a medical, religious, or philosophical exemption to the law is specified or the vaccination is refused.

Hepatitis B requirements

Hepatitis B requirements were divided into "screening" and "reporting" laws. A screening law was identified if the state requires screening of pregnant woman for hepatitis B infection or hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). A reporting law was identified if the state specifically requires reporting of positive HBsAg status in pregnant women, apart from general disease reporting and surveillance requirements.

For further information on this survey, or to update your state's information, please contact:

Megan C. Lindley, MPH
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
Immunization Services Division
1600 Clifton Road, NE; MS #A-19
Atlanta, GA 30333
E-mail: cvx9@cdc.gov

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