First Responder Anthrax Preparedness Act

To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to make anthrax vaccines and antimicrobials available to emergency response providers, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the First Responder Anthrax Preparedness Act 2. Pre-event anthrax vaccination program for emergency response providers (a) Anthrax preparedness (1) In general Title V of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 311 et seq. 526. Anthrax preparedness (a) Pre-Event anthrax vaccination program for emergency response providers For the purpose of domestic preparedness for and collective response to terrorism, the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall— (1) establish a program to provide anthrax vaccines from the strategic national stockpile under section 319F–2(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d–6b(a)) that will be nearing the end of their labeled dates of use at the time such vaccines are to be administered to emergency response providers who are at high risk of exposure to anthrax and who voluntarily consent to such administration; (2) establish any necessary logistical and tracking systems to facilitate making the vaccines described in paragraph (1) so available; (3) distribute disclosures regarding associated benefits and risks to end users; and (4) conduct outreach to educate emergency response providers about the voluntary program. (b) Threat assessment The Secretary shall— (1) support homeland security-focused risk analysis and risk assessments of the threats posed by anthrax from an act of terror; (2) leverage existing and emerging homeland security intelligence capabilities and structures to enhance prevention, protection, response, and recovery efforts with respect to an anthrax terror attack; and (3) share information and provide tailored analytical support on threats posed by anthrax to State, local, and tribal authorities, as well as other national biosecurity and biodefense stakeholders. . (2) Clerical amendment The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by inserting at the end of the items relating to title V the following new item: Sec. 526. Anthrax preparedness. . (b) Pilot program (1) In general In carrying out the pre-event vaccination program authorized under section 526(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall carry out a pilot program to provide anthrax vaccines to emergency response providers as so authorized. The duration of the pilot program shall be 24 months from the date the initial vaccines are administered to participants. (2) Preliminary requirements Prior to implementing the pilot program under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall— (A) establish a communication platform for the pilot program; (B) establish education and training modules for the pilot program; (C) conduct economic analysis of the pilot program; and (D) create a logistical platform for the anthrax vaccine request process under the pilot program. (3) Location In carrying out the pilot program under this subsection, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall select emergency response providers based in not less than 2 States for participation in the pilot program. (4) Distribution of information The Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide to each emergency response provider who participates in the pilot program under this subsection disclosures and educational materials regarding the associated benefits and risks of any vaccine provided under the pilot program and of exposure to anthrax. (5) Report (A) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until 1 year after the completion of the pilot program, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the progress and results of the pilot program, including— (i) the percentage of eligible emergency response providers, as determined by each pilot location, that volunteer to participate; (ii) the degree to which participants obtain necessary vaccinations, as appropriate; and (iii) recommendations to improve initial and recurrent participation in the pilot program. (B) Required plan The report required under subparagraph (A) shall include a plan under which the Secretary plans to continue the program to provide vaccines to emergency response providers under section 526(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a). (6) Deadline for implementation Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall begin implementing the pilot program under this subsection.

Summary: (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on November 16, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.) First Responder Anthrax Preparedness Act (Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to carry out a pilot program to provide eligible anthrax vaccines nearing the end of their labeled dates of use from the strategic national stockpile to emergency response providers who would be at high risk of exposure to anthrax if an attack should occur and who voluntarily consent. HHS shall determine whether an anthrax vaccine is eligible to be provided to DHS for the program based on determinations that: (1) the vaccine is not otherwise allotted for other purposes; and (2) the provision of the vaccine will not reduce or otherwise adversely affect the capability to meet projected requirements for such product during a public health emergency. DHS shall establish a communication platform, develop and deliver education and training, conduct an economic analysis, create a logistical platform, establish goals and desired outcomes for the program, and establish a mechanism to reimburse HHS for the costs of shipment and transportation of such vaccines provided to DHS under such program and the amount by which the warehousing costs of the stockpile are increased in order to operate such program. DHS must: (1) select between two and five states for voluntary participation in the program; (2) provide guidance to participating states and local governments on identifying providers who are at high risk of exposure; and (3) require each participating state to submit a written certification that each participating emergency response provider is provided with disclosures and educational materials regarding the associated benefits and risks of any vaccine provided and of exposure to anthrax, additional material consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's clinical guidance, and notice that the federal government is not obligated to continue providing anthrax vaccine after the program ends. Each state that participates in the program shall ensure that such participation is consistent with the state's All-Hazards Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan. DHS shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with HHS to: (1) define each department's roles and responsibilities, and (2) establish appropriate performance metrics and policies for the program. DHS must submit annual reports on program progress and results, which shall include the costs to administer the program, the number and percentage of eligible providers that volunteer to participate, the degree to which participants complete the vaccine regimen, the total number of doses of vaccine administered, and recommendations to improve participation. The final report shall consider whether the program should continue beyond five years after enactment of this bill and shall include: (1) an analysis of the costs and benefits of continuing the program; (2) an explanation of the economic, health, and other risks and benefits of administering vaccines through the program rather than post-event treatment; and (3) a plan under which the program could be continued.