SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Department of Vet-
erans Affairs Veterans’ and Caregivers’ COVID–19 Im-
munizations Now Expanded Act of 2021’’ or the ‘‘VA 
VACCINE Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 2. AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
TO FURNISH COVID–19 VACCINES TO CER-
TAIN INDIVIDUALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
may furnish a COVID–19 vaccine to a covered individual 
during the COVID–19 public health emergency. 
(b) VACCINES FURNISHED ABROAD.—In the case of 
an individual who is a covered individual by reason of sub-
section (d)(2)(B), the Secretary may furnish a COVID– 
19 vaccine, in a geographic location other than a State, 
to such individual under subsection (a) regardless of 
whether the Secretary determines that such vaccine is 
needed for the treatment of a service-connected disability 
of the veteran or as part of a rehabilitation program under 
chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code. 
(c) VETERAN AND ACCOMPANYING CAREGIVER PRI-
ORITY.—In furnishing COVID–19 vaccines, the Secretary 
shall— 
(1) prioritize the vaccination of veterans who 
are enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs under section 1705
of title 38, United States Code, veterans who fail to 
so enroll but receive hospital care and medical serv-
ices pursuant to subsection (c)(2) of such section, 
and accompanying caregivers over the vaccination of 
covered individuals under this section not otherwise 
described in this paragraph; and 
(2) only furnish such vaccines to covered indi-
viduals under this section to the extent that such 
vaccines are available. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘accompanying caregiver’’ means 
a caregiver described in subparagraph (C), (D), or 
(E) of paragraph (2) who is accompanying a veteran 
as described in subsection (c)(1). 
(2) The term ‘‘covered individual’’ means any of 
the following: 
(A) A veteran who is not eligible to enroll 
in the patient enrollment system of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs under section 1705 of 
title 38, United States Code. 
(B) A veteran who is eligible for care 
under section 1724 of such title. 
(C) A family caregiver who is approved as 
a provider of personal care services for an eligi-
ble veteran under the program of comprehensive
assistance for family caregivers under section 
1720G(a) of such title. 
(D) A caregiver of a covered veteran par-
ticipating in the program of general caregiver 
support services under section 1720G(b) of 
such title. 
(E) A caregiver of a veteran participating 
in the Medical Foster Home Program, Bowel 
and Bladder Program, Home Based Primary 
Care Program, or Veteran Directed Care Pro-
gram of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(3) 
The 
term 
‘‘COVID–19’’ 
means 
the 
Coronavirus disease 2019. 
(4) The term ‘‘COVID–19 public health emer-
gency’’ means the public health emergency declared 
by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on 
January 27, 2020, with respect to the Coronavirus 
disease 2019.
(5) The term ‘‘State’’ has the meaning given 
that term section 101 of title 38, United States 
Code. 
Passed the House of Representatives March 9, 
2021. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 1276 
AN ACT 
To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
furnish COVID–19 vaccines to certain individ-
uals, and for other purposes.