I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1276 
To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish COVID–19 vaccines 
to certain individuals, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 24, 2021 
Mr. TAKANO (for himself and Mr. BOST) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish 
COVID–19 vaccines to certain individuals, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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’’. 
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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)(1)(B), the Secretary may furnish a COVID– 
19 vaccine to such individual under subsection (a) regard-
less of whether the Secretary determines that such vaccine 
is needed for the treatment of a service-connected dis-
ability of the veteran or as part of a rehabilitation pro-
gram under chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code. 
(c) ENROLLED VETERAN PRIORITY.—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, over the vaccination 
of covered individuals under this section; 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: 
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(1) 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 of an eligible vet-
eran participating in the program of com-
prehensive 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. 
(2) 
The 
term 
‘‘COVID–19’’ 
means 
the 
coronavirus disease 2019. 
(3) The term ‘‘COVID–19 public health emer-
gency’’ means the public health emergency declared 
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by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on 
January 27, 2020, with respect to the coronavirus 
disease 2019. 
Æ 
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