Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding prioritizing the COVID-19 vaccine for members of the military.

Bill: 116-hres-1245
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4]
Introduced: 2020-12-02
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Immunology and vaccination

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Military education and training

Military medicine

Military personnel and dependents
Latest action: action_date: 2020-12-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-12-02
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This resolution expresses the support of the House of Representatives for a policy that prioritizes vaccination of military personnel and trainees against COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).</p>

tv_txt: IV 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1245 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 2, 2020 Mr. DesJarlais submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding prioritizing the COVID–19 vaccine for members of the military.

Whereas there are approximately 1,300,000 active duty servicemembers and hundreds of thousands of additional trainees; Whereas pharmaceutical companies Pfizer, BioNTech, and Moderna’s COVID–19 vaccines have shown early signs of success and could start to become available to the American people before the end of 2020; Whereas it is expected there could be around 40,000,000 doses of the COVID–19 vaccine available for distribution by the end of 2020; Whereas it is a priority to distribute the vaccine to those most vulnerable such as our Nation’s seniors and other high-risk groups starting in December 2020; Whereas the Department of Defense’s vaccine efforts through Operation Warp Speed has accelerated the research, development, and manufacturing of vaccines and logistic support for vaccine distribution; Whereas the United States military and its trainees serve a vital role in protecting our Nation and keeping people across the world safe; Whereas our Nation’s servicemembers and trainees are not able to train as normal; Whereas the United States military has continued to excel and perform as the world’s greatest professionals despite the challenges of the COVID–19 pandemic; and Whereas our Nation’s military is always ready for any challenge to protect the American people and those most vulnerable: Now, therefore, be it

That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that it should be the policy of the United States to prioritize our Nation’s military and trainees in receiving the COVID–19 vaccine as soon as reasonably practicable.