VACCINE Act

To establish a national system for individuals to register for the administration of a COVID–19 vaccine, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Vaccine Administration Centralization to Coordinate and Improve National Execution Act VACCINE Act 2. National system for COVID– 19 (a) In general The Secretary shall award grants to States to enable such States to establish, expand, or provide a statewide system as the sole and exclusive means by which individuals may register for the administration of a COVID–19 vaccine in such State. (b) Eligibility (1) In general To be eligible to receive a grant, a State shall establish mechanisms, including an internet website and a call center, through which a resident of such State that elects to receive a vaccine may register to receive administration of a COVID–19 vaccine in that State. (2) Criteria A State that receives a grant under this section shall comply with criteria established by the Secretary for carrying out activities under such grant. (3) Required information An internet website or a call center established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall, to the extent practicable, provide to the residents of the State involved information on at least the following: (A) The date on which a resident becomes eligible for the administration of a COVID–19 vaccine. (B) The locations at which the resident may receive administration of a COVID–19 vaccine. (C) The hours of operation at each such location. (c) National communication mechanism The Secretary shall establish communication mechanisms, including an internet website and a call center, through which any individual may receive information on each State mechanism established pursuant to subsection (b)(1). (d) Electronic exchange standards For purposes of establishing the statewide systems described in subsection (a), the Secretary shall establish standards and the architecture to allow for and promote the electronic exchange of information required to facilitate coordination between and among Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial entities and public and private health care entities for the administration of a COVID–19 vaccine to individuals eligible and registered to receive such a vaccine. (e) Funding Of the funds in the Public Health Emergency Fund under section 319(b) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 247d(b) (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Secretary The term Secretary (2) State The term State (g) Sunset This section shall be in effect only until the date on which the duration of the public health emergency declared by the Secretary under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 247d

Summary: Vaccine Administration Centralization to Coordinate and Improve National Execution Act or the VACCINE Act This bill establishes a grant program for states, tribal nations, and territories to set up or expand COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) vaccine registration systems. The system must be the jurisdiction's sole means of registering an individual for a vaccine. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must set up a website and a call center to share information with the public about each registration system. HHS must also develop standards to allow for electronic information exchange among the systems. To carry out the program, HHS may use funds from the Public Health Emergency Fund. The authority for this program terminates at the end of the COVID-19 emergency period.