§ 38–502.01(Perm). Certification of COVID-19 immunization.

(a)(1) Beginning March 1, 2022, and every school year thereafter, a responsible person for a student shall be required to submit to the school to which the student is admitted or is seeking admission:

(A) A certification of COVID-19 immunization for the student; or

(B) The documentation required pursuant to § 38-506 demonstrating that the student is exempt from COVID-19 immunization.

(2) No student shall be admitted by a school unless the school has certification of COVID-19 immunization for that student or the student is exempted pursuant to § 38-506; provided, that this paragraph shall not be enforced until the start of School Year 2022-2023.

(3) Sections 38-504 and 38-505 shall apply to a student for whom a school does not have a certification of COVID-19 immunization; provided, that § 38-505 shall not be enforced with respect to certification of COVID-19 immunization until the start of School Year 2022-2023.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, if a student has not attained an age for which a COVID-19 vaccine is available, a responsible person for the student shall have 70 days from the date the COVID-19 vaccine becomes available to the student, either by action of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the occurrence of the student's birthday, to submit certification of COVID-19 immunization.

(c) Electronic submission of a student's certification of COVID-19 immunization by a healthcare professional authorized to administer a vaccine or a public health authority in accordance with § 38-502(b) shall satisfy the requirement, in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, that a responsible person for the student submit the certification.

(d) For the purposes of this section the term:

(1) "Certification of COVID-19 immunization" means written certification by a healthcare professional authorized to administer a vaccine, his or her representative, or the public health authorities that the student has received COVID-19 immunization, which may include a copy of the student's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card reflecting COVID-19 immunization.

(2) "COVID-19 immunization" means initial immunization and any boosters or reimmunization required to maintain immunization against COVID-19, in accordance with the immunization standards issued by the public health authorities pursuant to this chapter.

(3) "COVID-19 vaccine" means a vaccine against COVID-19 for which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted full approval as opposed to emergency use authorization.

(4) "School" means:

(A) A District of Columbia Public Schools school;

(B) A public charter school; or

(5) "Student" means an individual who is 3 years of age or older who seeks admission to a school or for whom admission is sought by a responsible person.