COVID–19 Health Disparities Action Act of 2021

To establish and support public awareness campaigns to address COVID–19-related health disparities and promote vaccination. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the COVID–19 Health Disparities Action Act of 2021 2. Federal public awareness campaigns to address COVID–19-related health disparities and promote vaccination (a) In general The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in coordination with the White House COVID–19 Health Equity Task Force, the Office of Minority Health of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Surgeon General, the National Vaccine Program Office, and, as appropriate, in coordination with the relevant Offices of Minority Health in the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the Indian Health Service, and other relevant Federal offices and agencies, shall, subject to the availability of funding, develop and implement public awareness campaigns about COVID–19 vaccination and other relevant information about COVID–19 directed at racial and ethnic minority, rural, and other vulnerable populations that have experienced health disparities during the COVID–19 public health emergency related to rates of vaccination, testing, infection, hospitalization, and death. (b) Requirements The public awareness campaigns under this section shall— (1) prioritize communities where the greatest health disparities have been identified with respect to rates of vaccination, testing, infection, hospitalization, and death related to COVID–19, with a focus on disparities affecting racial and ethnic minority, rural, and other vulnerable populations; (2) be accessible, culturally competent, and, as appropriate, multilingual; (3) use print, radio, or internet media, including partnerships with social media influencers and thought leaders, or other forms of public communication, including local, independent, or community-based written news and electronic publications; and (4) provide information based on scientific evidence, dispel misinformation, and promote transparency regarding— (A) COVID–19 vaccination, which may include information regarding— (i) the effects of COVID–19 vaccination on disease transmission and severity, and the associated health impacts for individuals, communities, or the Nation; (ii) the effects of COVID–19 vaccination on the economic health of communities or the Nation; (iii) the current or upcoming availability of COVID–19 vaccination with no cost-sharing for most United States residents; (iv) locations where COVID–19 vaccinations are or will be available; (v) any relevant information regarding vaccination allocation or populations that are prioritized for vaccination in the region; and (vi) any other information regarding COVID–19 vaccination, as the Secretary determines appropriate; (B) COVID–19 testing, which may include information regarding— (i) the effects of COVID–19 testing on disease transmission; (ii) the availability of COVID–19 testing with no cost-sharing for most United States residents; and (iii) locations where COVID–19 testing is available in the region; (C) the actions that individuals may take to protect themselves from COVID–19, which may include masking and social distancing; or (D) any other topics related to COVID–19, as the Secretary determines appropriate. (c) Coordination The public awareness campaigns under this section shall be complementary to, and coordinated with, any other Federal, State, Tribal, and local efforts, including the grant program described in section 3, as appropriate. (d) Report to Congress Not later than 45 days after the date on which amounts are made available to the Secretary under this section, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on how such funds have been used during such 45-day period and a plan for using any remaining funds within the next 45 days. (e) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2021. 3. Grant program for public awareness campaigns to address COVID–19-related health disparities and promote vaccination (a) In general The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in coordination with the White House COVID–19 Health Equity Task Force, the Office of Minority Health of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Surgeon General, the National Vaccine Program Office, and, as appropriate, in coordination with the relevant Offices of Minority Health in the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the Indian Health Service, and other relevant Federal offices and agencies, shall award competitive grants to State, Tribal, and territorial health departments to support public awareness campaigns about COVID–19 directed at racial and ethnic minority, rural, and other vulnerable populations that have experienced health disparities during the COVID–19 public health emergency related to rates of vaccination, testing, infection, hospitalization, and death. (b) Eligible local entities Recipients of grants under this section may disseminate the grant funding to eligible local entities, which may include local health departments, nonprofit community-based organizations, Tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, health care providers, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit faith-based organizations, to develop and implement the public awareness campaigns described in subsection (a). (c) Prototypes The Secretary shall develop prototype campaign materials and make such materials available on the internet website of the Department of Health and Human Services for grant recipients and eligible local entities to adapt as needed to meet the needs of local communities. (d) Requirements The public awareness campaigns under this section shall— (1) prioritize communities where the greatest health disparities have been identified with respect to rates of vaccination, testing, infection, hospitalization, and death related to COVID–19, with a focus on disparities affecting racial and ethnic minority, rural, and other vulnerable populations; (2) be accessible, culturally competent, and, as appropriate, multilingual; (3) use print, radio, or internet media, including partnerships with social media influencers and thought leaders, or other forms of public communication, including local, independent, or community-based written news and electronic publications; and (4) provide information based on scientific evidence, dispel misinformation, and promote transparency regarding— (A) COVID–19 vaccination, which may include information regarding— (i) the effects of COVID–19 vaccination on disease transmission and severity, and the associated health impacts for individuals, communities, or the Nation; (ii) the effects of COVID–19 vaccination on the economic health of communities or the Nation; (iii) the current or upcoming availability of COVID–19 vaccination with no cost-sharing for most United States residents; (iv) locations where COVID–19 vaccinations are or will be available; (v) any relevant information regarding vaccination allocation or populations that are prioritized for vaccination in the region; and (vi) any other information regarding COVID–19 vaccination, as the Secretary determines appropriate; (B) COVID–19 testing, which may include information regarding— (i) the effects of COVID–19 testing on disease transmission; (ii) the availability of COVID–19 testing with no cost-sharing for most United States residents; and (iii) locations where COVID–19 testing is available in the region; (C) the actions that individuals may take to protect themselves from COVID–19, which may include masking and social distancing; or (D) any other topics related to COVID–19, as the Secretary determines appropriate. (e) Coordination The public health campaigns supported by grants awarded under this section shall be complementary to, and coordinated with, any other Federal, State, or local efforts, including the public awareness campaigns described in section 2, as appropriate. (f) Timing The Secretary shall award the grants under this section not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (g) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2021 and $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2022. 4. Definitions In this Act— (1) the term COVID–19 public health emergency 42 U.S.C. 247d (2) the term racial and ethnic minority racial and ethnic minority group 42 U.S.C. 300u–6(g) (3) the term relevant Offices of Minority Health in the Department of Health and Human Services (A) the Office of Extramural Research, Education, and Priority Populations of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; (B) the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; (C) the Office of Minority Health of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; (D) the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity of the Food and Drug Administration; (E) the Office of Health Equity of the Health Resources and Services Administration; and (F) the Office of Behavioral Health Equity of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; (4) the term Secretary (5) the term Tribal organization tribal organization 25 U.S.C. 5304 (6) the term urban Indian organization 25 U.S.C. 1603

Summary: COVID-19 Health Disparities Action Act of 2021 This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to raise awareness about COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) and promote vaccination among racial and ethnic minority groups and other populations that have experienced health disparities related to the disease. The CDC must conduct, subject to available funding, a public awareness campaign that targets those populations. The CDC must coordinate the campaign with the White House COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force and other federal, state, tribal, and local entities. The CDC must also award grants to health departments for similar COVID-19 awareness campaigns. Grant-funded campaigns must complement the CDC's campaign, as well as other efforts to inform the public about the disease. In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services must develop prototype materials for grantees to use in their campaigns.