Vermont committee weighs bill letting health commissioner set vaccine schedule, shielding providers who follow it

Montpelier — The House Judiciary Committee on Jan. 15 heard testimony on a bill referred to in the record as H.545 (transcript variants: H 5.5 / H 5 45) that would authorize the Vermont commissioner of health to issue the state immunization schedule and shield health-care professionals from civil and administrative liability when they prescribe, dispense or administer immunizations in accordance with those recommendations, unless the provider’s conduct amounts to gross negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct.

Katie McNeese, legislative counsel, told the committee the measure ties statutory language to the commissioner’s recommendations rather than to federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and contains a sunset provision dated 07/01/2031. McNeese read the bill’s subsection that would grant immunity, noting the protection applies only when a provider follows the commissioner’s recommendations and would not apply if a provider…