DC Health outlines how it will implement pharmacy vaccine designations and monitor uptake

DC Health Director Ayanna Bennett testified Oct. 30 that the Community Health Amendment Act of 2025 delegates to the health director the authority to designate competent medical and public health organizations whose immunization recommendations pharmacists may follow. Bennett told the Committee on Health that after the emergency legislation passed she issued a public notice designating the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and that DC Health would consider adding other organizations such as the ACP when their schedules are finalized.

Bennett described how the department communicated the emergency change: notices were sent directly to providers and pharmacists through the pharmacy board and provider networks. On monitoring, she cited local data and seasonal patterns: "During the 1st 0.25 of 2025, there were 2309 influenza related ED visits," she said, and noted that pharmacies are the most common adult vaccination setting in the District. When asked about the at‑home vaccine program for seniors, she said the COVID funding that previously supported the program ended and the city transferred operations to Fire & EMS to leverage an existing community paramedic program; DC Health will monitor the volume and alert seniors to the new scheduling process. Bennett said vaccine recommendations are generally updated annually and DC Health will update notices only as needed.