II 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1276 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 10, 2021 

Received 

AN ACT 

To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish 

COVID–19 vaccines to certain individuals, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Department of Vet3 erans Affairs Veterans’ and Caregivers’ COVID–19 Im4 munizations Now Expanded Act of 2021’’ or the ‘‘VA 

5 VACCINE Act of 2021’’. 

6 SEC. 2. AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

7 TO FURNISH COVID–19 VACCINES TO CER8 TAIN INDIVIDUALS. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

10 may furnish a COVID–19 vaccine to a covered individual 

11 during the COVID–19 public health emergency. 

12 (b) VACCINES FURNISHED ABROAD.—In the case of 

13 an individual who is a covered individual by reason of sub14 section (d)(2)(B), the Secretary may furnish a COVID– 

15 19 vaccine, in a geographic location other than a State, 

16 to such individual under subsection (a) regardless of 

17 whether the Secretary determines that such vaccine is 

18 needed for the treatment of a service-connected disability 

19 of the veteran or as part of a rehabilitation program under 

20 chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code. 

21 (c) VETERAN AND ACCOMPANYING CAREGIVER PRI22 ORITY.—In furnishing COVID–19 vaccines, the Secretary 

23 shall— 

24 (1) prioritize the vaccination of veterans who 

25 are enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the 

26 Department of Veterans Affairs under section 1705 


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1 of title 38, United States Code, veterans who fail to 

2 so enroll but receive hospital care and medical serv3 ices pursuant to subsection (c)(2) of such section, 

4 and accompanying caregivers over the vaccination of 

5 covered individuals under this section not otherwise 

6 described in this paragraph; and 

7 (2) only furnish such vaccines to covered indi8 viduals under this section to the extent that such 

9 vaccines are available. 

10 (d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

11 (1) The term ‘‘accompanying caregiver’’ means 

12 a caregiver described in subparagraph (C), (D), or 

13 (E) of paragraph (2) who is accompanying a veteran 

14 as described in subsection (c)(1). 

15 (2) The term ‘‘covered individual’’ means any of 

16 the following: 

17 (A) A veteran who is not eligible to enroll 

18 in the patient enrollment system of the Depart19 ment of Veterans Affairs under section 1705 of 

20 title 38, United States Code. 

21 (B) A veteran who is eligible for care 

22 under section 1724 of such title. 

23 (C) A family caregiver who is approved as 

24 a provider of personal care services for an eligi25 ble veteran under the program of comprehensive 


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1 assistance for family caregivers under section 

2 1720G(a) of such title. 

3 (D) A caregiver of a covered veteran par4 ticipating in the program of general caregiver 

5 support services under section 1720G(b) of 

6 such title. 

7 (E) A caregiver of a veteran participating 

8 in the Medical Foster Home Program, Bowel 

9 and Bladder Program, Home Based Primary 

10 Care Program, or Veteran Directed Care Pro11 gram of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

12 (3) The term ‘‘COVID–19’’ means the 

13 Coronavirus disease 2019. 

14 (4) The term ‘‘COVID–19 public health emer15 gency’’ means the public health emergency declared 

16 by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on 

17 January 27, 2020, with respect to the Coronavirus 

18 disease 2019. 


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1 (5) The term ‘‘State’’ has the meaning given 

2 that term section 101 of title 38, United States 

3 Code. 

Passed the House of Representatives March 9, 

2021. 

Attest: CHERYL L. JOHNSON, 

Clerk. 


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