(a) A doctor of podiatric medicine may independently prescribe and administer influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, consistent with recommendations adopted pursuant to Section 120164 of the Health and Safety Code, to persons three years of age or older.
(b) In order to prescribe and administer a vaccine described in subdivision (a), a doctor of podiatric medicine shall do all of the following:
(1) Complete an immunization training program biennially that is either offered by the CDC or taken through a registered provider approved by the board that, at a minimum, includes vaccine administration, prevention and management of adverse reactions, and maintenance of vaccine records.
(2) Comply with all state and federal recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including providing documentation to the patient’s primary care provider, if applicable, and entering in the information in the appropriate immunization registry designated by the Immunization Branch of the State Department of Public Health.
(c) The board may adopt regulations to implement this section. The adoption, amendment, repeal, or readoption of a regulation authorized by this section is deemed to address an emergency, for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and the board is hereby exempted for this purpose from the requirements of subdivision (b) of Section 11346.1 of the Government Code. For purposes of subdivision (e) of Section 11346.1 of the Government Code, the 180-day period, as applicable to the effective period of an emergency regulatory action and submission of specified materials to the Office of Administrative Law, is hereby extended to 240 days.
(Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 105, Sec. 6. (AB 144) Effective September 17, 2025.)