To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements to expand and enhance manufacturing capacity of vaccines and vaccine candidates to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements to expand and enhance manufacturing capacity of vaccines and vaccine candidates to prevent the spread of SARS–CoV–2 and COVID–19. 1. Vaccine manufacturing and administration capacity (a) Enhancing manufacturing capacity (1) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary (2) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2020 through 2024, to remain available until expended. (b) Report on vaccine manufacturing and administration capacity (1) In general Not later than December 31, 2020, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions of the Senate a report detailing— (A) an assessment of the estimated supply of vaccines and ancillary medical products related to vaccine administration necessary to control and stop the spread of SARS–CoV–2 and COVID–19, domestically and internationally; (B) an assessment of current and future domestic manufacturing capacity for vaccines or vaccine candidates to control or stop the spread of SARS–CoV–2 and COVID–19, vaccine candidates, and ancillary products related to the administration of such vaccines, including identification of any gaps in manufacturing capacity; (C) activities conducted to expand and enhance manufacturing capacity for vaccines, vaccine candidates, and ancillary medical products to levels sufficient to control and stop the spread of SARS–CoV–2 and COVID–19, domestically and internationally, including a list and explanation of all contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements awarded, and other transactions entered into, for purposes of such expansion and enhancement and how such activities will help to meet future domestic manufacturing capacity needs; (D) a plan for the ongoing support of enhanced manufacturing capacity for vaccines, vaccine candidates, and ancillary medical products sufficient to control and stop the spread of SARS–CoV–2 and COVID–19, domestically and internationally; and (E) a plan to support the administration of vaccines approved or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration to control and stop the spread of SARS–CoV–2 and COVID–19, domestically and internationally, including Federal workforce enhancements necessary to administer such vaccines. (2) Ancillary medical products For purposes of this subsection, ancillary medical products (A) vials; (B) bandages; (C) alcohol swabs; (D) syringes; (E) needles; (F) gloves and other personal protective equipment; and (G) other medical products the Secretary determines necessary for the administration of vaccines.

Summary: This bill directs the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to award grants and enter into other transactions to increase the manufacturing of vaccines that prevent COVID-19.