SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Underserved Adult and
Adolescent Immunization Act of 2001’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) While the United States achieved record lev-
els of immunization in the 1990s and childhood im-
munization coverage has dramatically increased, cer-
tain problems persist within the national immuniza-
tion system. The Nation still needs to address per-
sistent disparities in childhood levels of immuniza-
tion coverage in high-poverty areas. In addition, im-
munization coverage rates for adults are well below
those achieved for childhood immunizations. Thus,
there is a vital need to step up our activities to im-
munize underserved adults and adolescents.
(2) Presently, many at-risk adults and adoles-
cents are not getting the vaccines they need, such as
influenza, pneumococcal, hepatitis B, chickenpox and
mennigitis vaccine. Moreover, adolescents and cer-
tain adult subpopulations (minorities, seniors, the
uninsured, persons with chronic diseases) have sig-
nificantly lower coverage.
(3) This past season’s shortage of influenza
vaccine emphasized that the United States has no
comprehensive flu vaccination plan. Delays in vac-
cine production and a haphazard distribution system
creates shortages, and drives up vaccine prices. This
past season, much of the available vaccine went to
programs that immunize mostly lower-risk people
(colleges, workplaces, shopping malls), leaving out
the elderly and sick, for whom immunization could
make the difference between life or death.
(4) Vaccine-preventable diseases in adults cause
staggering deaths and illnesses. Each year, about
20,000 Americans die due to influenza or influenza-
related pneumonia. Over 90 percent of the deaths
occur in persons aged 65 years and older. Moreover,
pneumonia and influenza together are the fifth lead-
ing cause of death among older adults. The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that
the overall cost to society from these vaccine-pre-
ventable diseases of adults exceeds $10 billion per
year.
(5) The problem is exacerbated by the fact that
Federal resources for immunizations have decreased
over the last five years. This unpredictable funding
has created uncertainty in State and local planning
efforts. Increasingly, State health departments are
facing difficulties in monitoring the effectiveness of
immunizations, since the majority of vaccines are de-
livered in private health care facilities. Thus, long-
range data collection, assessment of immunization
rates and strategic planning efforts have suffered.
SEC. 3. PROGRAM FOR INCREASING IMMUNIZATION RATES
FOR ADULTS AND ADOLESCENTS; COLLEC-
TION OF ADDITIONAL IMMUNIZATION DATA.
(a) ACTIVITIES OF CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL
AND PREVENTION.—Section 317(j) of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b(j)) is amended by adding at
the end the following paragraphs:
‘‘(3)(A) For the purpose of carrying out activities to-
ward increasing immunization rates for adults and adoles-
cents through the immunization program under this sub-
section, and for the purpose of carrying out subsection
(k)(2), 
there 
are 
authorized 
to 
be 
appropriated
$50,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, and such sums as may
be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2003 through
2005. Such authorization is in addition to amounts avail-
able under paragraphs (1) and (2) for such purposes.
‘‘(B) In expending amounts appropriated under sub-
paragraph (A), the Secretary shall give priority to adults
and adolescents who are medically underserved and are
at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases, including as ap-
propriate populations identified through projects under
subsection (k)(2)(E).
‘‘(C) The purposes for which amounts appropriated
under subparagraph (A) are available include (with re-
spect to immunizations for adults and adolescents) pay-
ment of the costs of storing vaccines, outreach activities
to inform individuals of the availability of the immuniza-
tions, and other program expenses necessary for the estab-
lishment or operation of immunization programs carried
out or supported by States or other public entities pursu-
ant to this subsection.
‘‘(4) The Secretary shall annually submit to the Con-
gress a report that—
‘‘(A) evaluates the extent to which the immuni-
zation system in the United States has been effective
in providing for adequate immunization rates for
adults and adolescents, taking into account the ap-
plicable year 2010 health objectives established by
the Secretary regarding the health status of the peo-
ple of the United States; and
‘‘(B) describes any issues identified by the Sec-
retary that may affect such rates.
‘‘(5) In carrying out this subsection and paragraphs
(1) and (2) of subsection (k), the Secretary shall consider
recommendations regarding immunizations that are made
in reports issued by the Institute of Medicine.’’.
(b) RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATIONS, 
AND
EDU-
CATION.—Section 317(k) of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 247b(k)) is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through
(4) as paragraphs (3) through (5), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing paragraph:
‘‘(2) The Secretary, directly and through grants
under paragraph (1), shall provide for a program of
research, demonstration projects, and education in
accordance with the following:
‘‘(A) The Secretary shall coordinate with
public and private entities (including nonprofit
private entities), and develop and disseminate
guidelines, toward the goal of ensuring that im-
munizations are routinely offered to adults and
adolescents by public and private health care
providers.
‘‘(B) The Secretary shall cooperate with
public and private entities to obtain information
for the annual evaluations required in sub-
section (j)(4)(A).
‘‘(C) The Secretary shall (relative to fiscal
year 2001) increase the extent to which the
Secretary collects data on the incidence, preva-