SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5365

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As of February 21, 2019

Title: An act relating to vaccination and antibody titer test notification.

Brief Description: Concerning vaccination and antibody titer test notification.

Sponsors: Senators Wagoner, Padden, Bailey and Wilson, L..

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Health & Long Term Care: 2/22/19.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Requires health care providers to notify individuals or their guardian prior to administering a vaccination of the option to consent to an antibody titer test and of the legal requirements for vaccination.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG TERM CARE

Staff: Greg Attanasio (786-7410)

Background: A child is prohibited from attending a school or licensed day care center unless one of the following is presented prior to the child's first day: (1) proof of full immunization; (2) proof of the initiation and compliance with a schedule of immunization; or (3) a certificate of exemption. Full immunization includes vaccines for chickenpox, diphtheria, measles, German measles, haemophilus influenza type B disease, hepatitis B, mumps, pneumococcal disease, polio, tetanus, and whooping cough. The certificate of immunization status form published by the Department of Health allows laboratory evidence of immunity to substitute for the required immunization. The form also allows a verified history of chickenpox to substitute for the chickenpox vaccine.

For a child to be exempt from all or part of the immunization requirement, one of the following must be presented:

An exemption form must also include a statement signed by a health care practitioner stating that the practitioner provided the signator with information about the benefits and risks of immunization, unless the parent or guardian demonstrates membership in a religious body or church in which the religious beliefs or teachings preclude a health care practitioner from providing medical treatment to the child. "Health care practitioner" is defined as a licensed allopathic or osteopathic physician, naturopath, physician assistant, or advanced registered nurse practitioner.

An antibody titer test is a blood test that detects the presence and measures the amount of antibodies within a person’s blood and can be used to determine whether a person has had an infection or is immune to a disease.

Summary of Bill: Beginning January 1, 2020, licensed health care providers must notify the person to be immunized, or in the case of a child, the child's parent or legal guardian:

Documented laboratory evidence of a positive antibody titer obtained through a licensed antibody titer test constitutes serologic proof of immunity and satisfies the state immunization requirement for that disease for school or day care attendance.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.