New legislation passed by the D.C. Council and signed into law by Mayor Muriel Bowser lets city residents get COVID-19 vaccines without a prescription.

The law overrides a previous policy that tied the ability of D.C. pharmacies to independently distribute the vaccines to immunization guidelines from the federal government.

While the 2024-25 editions of the COVID-19 vaccines were listed on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s immunization schedule, the versions for 2025-26 were not.

This meant that without the new legislation, D.C. residents under age 65 and without risk factors would have needed a prescription to get the most updated COVID-19 vaccines, according to WTOP-FM.

Instead, the new policy will “authorize health care providers in the District to order and administer immunizations recommended by competent medical and public health organizations designated by the director of the Department of Health.”

“D.C. will now match both Maryland and Virginia so that residents don’t have to travel out of state to be able to get access to the vaccine,” Council member Christina Henderson, who introduced the emergency legislation, told WTOP-FM.

The legislation passed with 12 yes votes and Ward 8 Council member Trayon White voting present.

For more information, visit The Washington Times COVID-19 resource page.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.