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2026 Regular Session Introduced by Linda Chaney and 5 co-sponsors

Restricts adding new vaccines to NC’s schedule until FDA-approved for 3 years, or with two state medical society approvals if under 3 years.

Chapter No. 2026-63

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Main purpose

To restrict the Commission for Public Health from adding newly‑available vaccines to North Carolina’s mandatory childhood immunization schedule unless the vaccine has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for at least three years — or, if approved for less time, only after endorsement by two state professional medical organizations.

Key provisions

Amends G.S. 130A‑152 (Immunization required).

New requirement: before adding any vaccine to the State childhood immunization schedule, the Commission must confirm the vaccine has been FDA‑approved for a minimum of three years.

Exception: the Commission may add an FDA‑approved vaccine that has been approved for less than three years only if both the North Carolina Medical Society Board of Directors and the North Carolina Pediatric Society Board of Directors recommend its inclusion.

Retains the Commission’s authority to adopt rules on vaccine administration (age, dose counts, procedures, exemptions, fees, redistribution, etc.).

Reaffirms parental/guardian responsibility to ensure required immunizations are obtained at ages set by the Commission.

Clarifies applicability: the requirement applies to new vaccine requirements established on or after the bill’s effective date.

Does not alter an existing subsection (f) that restricts mandatory COVID‑19 vaccination requirements in many educational settings (i.e., the separate COVID‑19 limitation remains).

Who is affected

Commission for Public Health and NC Department of Health: changes rulemaking and scheduling process for child vaccines.

Children and families in North Carolina: timing of required new childhood vaccines could be delayed.

Health care providers and school immunization administrators: adjustments to recommended/required schedules and communications with parents.

Vaccine manufacturers: potential delay in state adoption of recently FDA‑approved pediatric vaccines.

Professional medical organizations (NC Medical Society and NC Pediatric Society): elevated advisory role when approval is less than three years.

Procedural/timeline aspects

The bill takes effect upon becoming law and applies only to vaccine requirements established after that date.

Current regulatory duties of the Commission (rulemaking, enforcement, defining ages/doses, and exemptions) remain in place.

The bill requires concurrence of two named professional boards for faster adoption when FDA approval is under three years.

Potential implications (practical effects)

Slows state adoption of newly FDA‑approved childhood vaccines (creates a minimum waiting period of three years unless professional boards recommend sooner).

Could delay broad public‑health responses when a recently approved pediatric vaccine addresses an emerging threat, unless professional societies quickly endorse its use.

Shifts some decision weight to two state professional groups in cases of newer approvals.

Bill