Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Health Care & Wellness Committee
HB 2157
Brief Description: Updating the definition of "vaccine" in RCW 70.290.010 to include all federal food and drug administration-approved immunizations recommended by the centers for disease control and prevention.
Sponsors: Representatives Harris, Stonier, Reed, Ormsby, Macri, Ortiz-Self and Reeves; by request of Department of Health.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Changes the definition of "vaccine" for purposes of the Washington Vaccine Association.
Hearing Date: 1/12/24
Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).
Background:

The Washington Childhood Vaccine Program (WCVP) supplies, at no cost, vaccines to participating health care providers for administration to persons under the age of 19.  The program includes all vaccines recommended by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), including vaccines for influenza, hepatitis A and B, human papillomavirus, measles, mumps, rubella, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

 

The WCVP is funded by a combination of federal funds, state funds, and assessments on health carriers and third-party administrators.  The assessments on health carriers and third-party administrators are collected and remitted to the Department of Health by the Washington Vaccine Association (WVA), which is a public-private nonprofit corporation.  The definition of "vaccine" for purposes of the WVA is a preparation of killed or attenuated living microorganisms, or fraction thereof, that stimulates immunity that protects against disease and is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration as safe and effective and recommended by the ACIP for administration to children under the age of 19.
Summary of Bill:

The definition of vaccine for purposes of the WVA is broadened to include any immunization approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration as safe and effective and recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for administration to children under the age of 19.  In other words, the requirement that the vaccines be a preparation of killed or attenuated virus that stimulates immunity that protects against disease is removed.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.