Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) - the advisory body that makes recommendations on the use of vaccines in the United States including age appropriate immunizations and the proper interval between vaccinations.

Combination vaccine - a vaccine that merges into a single product the antigens that prevent different diseases or that protect against multiple strains of infections agents causing the same disease.

Day - a calendar day, unless otherwise indicated.

Department - the District of Columbia Department of Health.

Diphtheria tetanus acellular pertussis (DTaP) - an inactivated vaccine that provides protection from contracting diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, containing acellular pertussis in a single dose that is intended for use only in children under seven (7) years of age.

Diphtheria tetanus whole-cell pertussis (DTP) - an inactivated vaccine that provides protection from contracting diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, containing whole-cell pertussis in a single dose and was intended for use only in children under seven (7) years of age. This vaccine is no longer routinely administered in the United States.

District of Columbia Immunization Information System (DOCIIS) - the system for reporting the administration of a vaccine to the District of Columbia Department of Health.

Health Care Provider - a person licensed in the District of Columbia to give health care including a Registered Nurse, Medical Doctor, Nurse Practitioner, Pharmacist, or Physician Assistant.

Hib - an inactivated vaccine to immunize against hemophilus influenza type B.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) - an inactivated vaccine that provides protection from contracting certain forms of the human papilloma virus.

Immunity – the ability of a person to resist being infected by a disease or toxin by the action of specific antibodies or sensitized white blood cells.

Immunization – the process by which a person becomes protected against a disease through vaccination. This term is often used interchangeably with

vaccination or inoculation.

Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) - an inactivated vaccine that provides protection from contracting polio that is administered by syringe.

Live oral polio vaccine (OPV) - an attenuated, live-virus vaccine containing that is administered orally and provides protection from contracting polio, but may also cause polio in rare cases. This vaccine is no longer routinely administered in the United States.

Measles mumps rubella (MMR) - an attenuated, live-virus vaccine containing a combination of measles, mumps, and rubella viruses.

Meningococcal vaccine - an inactivated serigroup-specific quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine against serigroups A, C, Y, and W-135.

Month - a period of thirty (30) consecutive days.

On-campus student housing - housing provided to students, regardless of the fee, that is owned, rented, or contracted for and operated by a school of post-secondary education, or through written agreement, with an agent of the school of post-secondary education.

PCV-7 - an inactivated heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine composed of purified polysaccharides of seven (7) serotypes (C4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, and 23 F).

Primary immunization - the initial series of immunizations a child receives at age appropriate intervals excluding booster doses.

School year - the period established by the District of Columbia Schools, Public Charter Schools, or a private or parochial school as the beginning and end dates of a regular school program, typically spanning parts of two calendar years.

Student - a child enrolled in a public, private, parochial, or charter school in the District of Columbia or a child enrolled in a child development center in the District of Columbia.

Tetanus diphtheria-containing (Td-containing) - an inactivated vaccine that contains at least tetanus and diphtheria toxoids and provides protection from contracting diphtheria and tetanus in a single dose that is intended for children over seven (7) years of age.

Tetanus diphtheria acellular pertussis (Tdap) - a vaccine that provides protection from contracting tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, containing acellular pertussis in a single dose that is intended for children over seven (7) years of age.

Undervaccinated - the circumstance of having received an incomplete immunization series.

Unvaccinated - the circumstance of having received no immunizations in an antigen series.

Vaccination - the act of introducing a vaccine into the body to produce immunity to a specific disease.

Vaccine - a product that stimulates a person’s immune system to produce immunity to a specific disease that are administered through needle injections, by mouth, or by spray into the nose.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 55 DCR 5253 (May 2, 2008); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 68 DCR 012467 (November 26, 2021).