Hot Topics in Public Health
MSDC Member Spotlight Series
Medical Society of DC Praises Council Introduction of New DC Vaccine Bill
Legislation protects physicians from harmful lawsuits when practice evidence-based medicine
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Medical Society of DC Praises Council Introduction of New DC Vaccine Bill
Legislation protects physicians from harmful lawsuits when practice evidence-based medicine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 3, 2026 – The Medical Society of the District of Columbia, DC’s professional organization for DC area physicians, thanks Chair Mendelson, Mayor Bowser, DC Health, and the DC Council for introducing legislation that protects healthcare providers who promote good public health by providing vaccines.
If enacted, the proposed legislation would amend D.C. Official Code § 7-401 to ensure healthcare providers are not held liable for any injury caused by the prescribing, dispensing, ordering, furnishing, or administering of eligible vaccines or other immunizing agents. These include ones required by law or recommended by leading medical and public health entities.
“DC is stepping up to protect residents and model good public health,” said MSDC President and pediatrician Dr. Matthew Lecuyer. “Healthcare providers should not fear legal actions based on junk science, internet rumor, or ignorant politicians when they are protecting the population through immunization. Vaccines are safe and effective, and this bill will ensure my colleagues are not subject to frivolous lawsuits when acting in accord with best practice as defined by science.”
MSDC is committed to immunization best practice; in 2025 the MSDC Board of Directors reaffirmed that by passing an updated policy for the Society:
Immunization Policy. MSDC affirms that immunizations are among the safest and most cost-effective public health interventions, preventing disease, disability, and death. MSDC supports universal access to CDC/ACIP-recommended vaccines without cost-sharing and through equitable, culturally responsive distribution across all populations. MSDC is committed to advancing evidence-based vaccine policy that protects all District residents and reduces health disparities, advocating for District regulations and public health funding that strengthen vaccine supply chains and enable transparent reporting of immunization coverage rates across the District.
MSDC has long advocated for the District to showcase best practice in public health. The Society partnered with the District government and private entities during the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage District residents to be vaccinated and have continued to provide resources for patients and caregivers on immunization. Dr. Patience White is this year’s Dr. Charles H. Epps III Community Service Award winner in part for her advocacy on immunization.
About the Medical Society of DC. With more than 3,000 members, the Medical Society of the District of Columbia (MSDC) is the largest medical organization representing physicians in the District of Columbia. The Medical Society was founded in 1817, and it is dedicated to ensuring the well-being of physicians and their patients in metropolitan Washington. MSDC is continually seeking to guarantee access to appropriate medical care for all District residents, regardless of location or income.
Media Contact: Robert Hay Jr., Executive Vice President, MSDC, Phone: 202-466-1800 Email: hay@msdc.org
Medical Society of DC Praises Council Introduction of New DC Vaccine Bill
Legislation protects physicians from harmful lawsuits when practice evidence-based medicine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 3, 2026 – The Medical Society of the District of Columbia, DC’s professional organization for DC area physicians, thanks Chair Mendelson, Mayor Bowser, DC Health, and the DC Council for introducing legislation that protects healthcare providers who promote good public health by providing vaccines.
If enacted, the proposed legislation would amend D.C. Official Code § 7-401 to ensure healthcare providers are not held liable for any injury caused by the prescribing, dispensing, ordering, furnishing, or administering of eligible vaccines or other immunizing agents. These include ones required by law or recommended by leading medical and public health entities.
“DC is stepping up to protect residents and model good public health,” said MSDC President and pediatrician Dr. Matthew Lecuyer. “Healthcare providers should not fear legal actions based on junk science, internet rumor, or ignorant politicians when they are protecting the population through immunization. Vaccines are safe and effective, and this bill will ensure my colleagues are not subject to frivolous lawsuits when acting in accord with best practice as defined by science.”
MSDC is committed to immunization best practice; in 2025 the MSDC Board of Directors reaffirmed that by passing an updated policy for the Society:
Immunization Policy. MSDC affirms that immunizations are among the safest and most cost-effective public health interventions, preventing disease, disability, and death. MSDC supports universal access to CDC/ACIP-recommended vaccines without cost-sharing and through equitable, culturally responsive distribution across all populations. MSDC is committed to advancing evidence-based vaccine policy that protects all District residents and reduces health disparities, advocating for District regulations and public health funding that strengthen vaccine supply chains and enable transparent reporting of immunization coverage rates across the District.
MSDC has long advocated for the District to showcase best practice in public health. The Society partnered with the District government and private entities during the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage District residents to be vaccinated and have continued to provide resources for patients and caregivers on immunization. Dr. Patience White is this year’s Dr. Charles H. Epps III Community Service Award winner in part for her advocacy on immunization.
About the Medical Society of DC. With more than 3,000 members, the Medical Society of the District of Columbia (MSDC) is the largest medical organization representing physicians in the District of Columbia. The Medical Society was founded in 1817, and it is dedicated to ensuring the well-being of physicians and their patients in metropolitan Washington. MSDC is continually seeking to guarantee access to appropriate medical care for all District residents, regardless of location or income.
Media Contact: Robert Hay Jr., Executive Vice President, MSDC, Phone: 202-466-1800 Email: hay@msdc.org
Public Health News
Medical Society of DC Praises Council Introduction of New DC Vaccine Bill
Legislation protects physicians from harmful lawsuits when practice evidence-based medicine
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Medical Society of DC Praises Council Introduction of New DC Vaccine Bill
Legislation protects physicians from harmful lawsuits when practice evidence-based medicine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 3, 2026 – The Medical Society of the District of Columbia, DC’s professional organization for DC area physicians, thanks Chair Mendelson, Mayor Bowser, DC Health, and the DC Council for introducing legislation that protects healthcare providers who promote good public health by providing vaccines.
If enacted, the proposed legislation would amend D.C. Official Code § 7-401 to ensure healthcare providers are not held liable for any injury caused by the prescribing, dispensing, ordering, furnishing, or administering of eligible vaccines or other immunizing agents. These include ones required by law or recommended by leading medical and public health entities.
“DC is stepping up to protect residents and model good public health,” said MSDC President and pediatrician Dr. Matthew Lecuyer. “Healthcare providers should not fear legal actions based on junk science, internet rumor, or ignorant politicians when they are protecting the population through immunization. Vaccines are safe and effective, and this bill will ensure my colleagues are not subject to frivolous lawsuits when acting in accord with best practice as defined by science.”
MSDC is committed to immunization best practice; in 2025 the MSDC Board of Directors reaffirmed that by passing an updated policy for the Society:
Immunization Policy. MSDC affirms that immunizations are among the safest and most cost-effective public health interventions, preventing disease, disability, and death. MSDC supports universal access to CDC/ACIP-recommended vaccines without cost-sharing and through equitable, culturally responsive distribution across all populations. MSDC is committed to advancing evidence-based vaccine policy that protects all District residents and reduces health disparities, advocating for District regulations and public health funding that strengthen vaccine supply chains and enable transparent reporting of immunization coverage rates across the District.
MSDC has long advocated for the District to showcase best practice in public health. The Society partnered with the District government and private entities during the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage District residents to be vaccinated and have continued to provide resources for patients and caregivers on immunization. Dr. Patience White is this year’s Dr. Charles H. Epps III Community Service Award winner in part for her advocacy on immunization.
About the Medical Society of DC. With more than 3,000 members, the Medical Society of the District of Columbia (MSDC) is the largest medical organization representing physicians in the District of Columbia. The Medical Society was founded in 1817, and it is dedicated to ensuring the well-being of physicians and their patients in metropolitan Washington. MSDC is continually seeking to guarantee access to appropriate medical care for all District residents, regardless of location or income.
Media Contact: Robert Hay Jr., Executive Vice President, MSDC, Phone: 202-466-1800 Email: hay@msdc.org
Medical Society of DC Praises Council Introduction of New DC Vaccine Bill
Legislation protects physicians from harmful lawsuits when practice evidence-based medicine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 3, 2026 – The Medical Society of the District of Columbia, DC’s professional organization for DC area physicians, thanks Chair Mendelson, Mayor Bowser, DC Health, and the DC Council for introducing legislation that protects healthcare providers who promote good public health by providing vaccines.
If enacted, the proposed legislation would amend D.C. Official Code § 7-401 to ensure healthcare providers are not held liable for any injury caused by the prescribing, dispensing, ordering, furnishing, or administering of eligible vaccines or other immunizing agents. These include ones required by law or recommended by leading medical and public health entities.
“DC is stepping up to protect residents and model good public health,” said MSDC President and pediatrician Dr. Matthew Lecuyer. “Healthcare providers should not fear legal actions based on junk science, internet rumor, or ignorant politicians when they are protecting the population through immunization. Vaccines are safe and effective, and this bill will ensure my colleagues are not subject to frivolous lawsuits when acting in accord with best practice as defined by science.”
MSDC is committed to immunization best practice; in 2025 the MSDC Board of Directors reaffirmed that by passing an updated policy for the Society:
Immunization Policy. MSDC affirms that immunizations are among the safest and most cost-effective public health interventions, preventing disease, disability, and death. MSDC supports universal access to CDC/ACIP-recommended vaccines without cost-sharing and through equitable, culturally responsive distribution across all populations. MSDC is committed to advancing evidence-based vaccine policy that protects all District residents and reduces health disparities, advocating for District regulations and public health funding that strengthen vaccine supply chains and enable transparent reporting of immunization coverage rates across the District.
MSDC has long advocated for the District to showcase best practice in public health. The Society partnered with the District government and private entities during the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage District residents to be vaccinated and have continued to provide resources for patients and caregivers on immunization. Dr. Patience White is this year’s Dr. Charles H. Epps III Community Service Award winner in part for her advocacy on immunization.
About the Medical Society of DC. With more than 3,000 members, the Medical Society of the District of Columbia (MSDC) is the largest medical organization representing physicians in the District of Columbia. The Medical Society was founded in 1817, and it is dedicated to ensuring the well-being of physicians and their patients in metropolitan Washington. MSDC is continually seeking to guarantee access to appropriate medical care for all District residents, regardless of location or income.
Media Contact: Robert Hay Jr., Executive Vice President, MSDC, Phone: 202-466-1800 Email: hay@msdc.org
Leave a comment