Title: Strengthening and Amplifying Vaccination Efforts to Locally Immunize All Veterans and Every Spouse Act
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans' and Caregivers' COVID-19 Immunizations Now Expanded Act of 2021 or the VA VACCINE Act of 2021
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish a COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) vaccine to covered individuals during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Under the bill, covered individuals are
The VA must prioritize the vaccination of veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system. Additionally, vaccines furnished abroad are authorized regardless of whether vaccines are needed for the treatment of veterans with a service-connected disability (including those participating in a VA rehabilitation program).

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1276 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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 Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Veterans Affairs 
Veterans' and Caregivers' COVID-19 Immunizations 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 CERTAIN 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 subsection (d)(1)(B), the Secretary 
may furnish a COVID-19 vaccine 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) 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 individuals under 
        this section to the extent that such vaccines are available.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (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 Department 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 veteran 
                participating in the program of comprehensive 
                assistance for family caregivers under section 1720G(a) 
                of such title.
                    (D) A caregiver of a covered veteran participating 
                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 Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
            (2) The term ``COVID-19'' means the coronavirus disease 
        2019.
            (3) The term ``COVID-19 public health emergency'' 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.
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