I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8555 

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit to Congress 

a weekly report on COVID–19 vaccine distribution, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 9, 2020 

Ms. CRAIG introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to 

submit to Congress a weekly report on COVID–19 vaccine distribution, 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, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Vaccine Fairness Act 

5 of 2020’’. 

6 SEC. 2. COVID–19 VACCINE DISTRIBUTION REPORT. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 7 days after the 

8 date on which the Federal Government begins distributing 

9 COVID–19 vaccines for administration to the public, and 

10 every 7 days thereafter, the Secretary of Health and 


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1 Human Services (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Sec2 retary’’), in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, 

3 shall submit to Congress a report on the effectiveness of 

4 efforts relating to the distribution of COVID–19 vaccines 

5 to the public. 

6 (b) CONTENTS OF REPORT.—Each report submitted 

7 under subsection (a) shall include, with respect to the 7- 

8 day period preceding the date on which such report is sub9 mitted, the following: 

10 (1) The number of doses of COVID–19 vaccines 

11 distributed for administration to the public. 

12 (2) A description of any substantial purchase of 

13 COVID–19 vaccines by a Federal Government agen14 cy or private organization. 

15 (3) The number of doses of COVID–19 vaccines 

16 that were distributed to State or local health depart17 ments. 

18 (4) A description of the progress made in dis19 tributing COVID–19 vaccines to the following: 

20 (A) High-risk and other priority groups, 

21 including— 

22 (i) racial and ethnic minorities; 

23 (ii) individuals who are pregnant or 

24 breastfeeding; 

25 (iii) individuals with disabilities; 


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1 (iv) homeless individuals; 

2 (v) newly resettled refugees; and 

3 (vi) individuals in rural communities. 

4 (B) High-risk facilities, including— 

5 (i) long-term care facilities; 

6 (ii) group homes; and 

7 (iii) jails and prisons. 

8 (5) A description of any deviations from Fed9 eral distribution plans, including issues relating to 

10 the following: 

11 (A) Sites administering large numbers of 

12 COVID–19 vaccines, such as pharmacy chain 

13 stores, schools, and primary health care pro14 viders. 

15 (B) Tracking procedures for COVID–19 

16 vaccines, particularly in areas of greatest need. 

17 (C) Outreach to health care providers and 

18 the public about the availability, benefits, safe19 ty, contraindications, and costs of receiving 

20 COVID–19 vaccines. 

21 (D) Outreach to health care providers re22 garding the responsibilities of such providers to 

23 track vaccine administration and monitor ad24 verse events. 


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1 (E) Uniform record keeping relating to the 

2 administration of COVID–19 vaccines (includ3 ing Federal support for State and local immuni4 zation information systems). 

5 (F) Overuse or gaps in treatment. 

6 (c) BRIEFINGS.—On each date on which the Sec7 retary submits to Congress a report under subsection (a), 

8 the Secretary shall be available to brief Congress on the 

9 contents of such report. 

10 (d) TERMINATION.—This section shall cease to have 

11 effect on the date that is 18 months after the date on 

12 which the initial report is submitted to Congress under 

13 subsection (a). 

14 (e) STATE DEFINED.—In this section, the term 

15 ‘‘State’’ means each of the several States, the District of 

16 Columbia, each commonwealth, territory, or possession of 

17 the United States, and each federally recognized Indian 

18 Tribe. 

Æ 


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