To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish seasonal influenza vaccines to certain individuals, and for other purposes.

Bill: 117-hr-5671
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41]
Introduced: 2021-10-21
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Disability and paralysis

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health care coverage and access

Immunology and vaccination

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2021-11-16
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-10-21
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish a seasonal influenza vaccine to covered individuals during the COVID-19 public health emergency.</p> <p>Under the bill, covered individuals are</p> <ul> <li> veterans who are not eligible to enroll in the VA health care system;</li> <li>specified veterans who are eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care abroad;</li> <li>beneficiaries who are eligible for care due to a specified disability or death of a veteran;</li> <li>family caregivers of veterans who are participating in the VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers;</li> <li>caregivers of veterans participating in the VA's Program of General Caregiver Support Services;</li> <li>caregivers of veterans participating in the VA's Medical Foster Home Program, Bowel and Bladder Program, Home Based Primary Care Program, or Veteran Directed Care Program; and</li> <li>the spouses of veterans.</li> </ul> <p>The VA must prioritize the vaccination of (1) veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system, (2) veterans who fail to enroll but receive hospital care and medical services for specified disabilities in their first 12 months of separation from service, and (3) caregivers accompanying such prioritized veterans.</p> <p>Under the bill, the VA is authorized to determine the timing for offering a vaccine to the spouse of a veteran.</p>

action_date: 2021-11-15
action_desc: Passed House
text: <p>This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish a seasonal influenza vaccine through April 29, 2022, to covered individuals during the COVID-19 public health emergency.</p> <p>Under the bill, covered individuals are</p> <ul> <li> veterans who are not eligible to enroll in the VA health care system;</li> <li>specified veterans who are eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care abroad;</li> <li>beneficiaries who are eligible for care due to a specified disability or death of a veteran;</li> <li>family caregivers of veterans who are participating in the VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers;</li> <li>caregivers of veterans participating in the VA's Program of General Caregiver Support Services;</li> <li>caregivers of veterans participating in the VA's Medical Foster Home Program, Bowel and Bladder Program, Home Based Primary Care Program, or Veteran Directed Care Program; and</li> <li>the spouses of veterans.</li> </ul> <p>The VA must prioritize the vaccination of (1) veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system, (2) veterans who fail to enroll but receive hospital care and medical services for specified disabilities in their first 12 months of separation from service, and (3) caregivers accompanying such prioritized veterans.</p> <p>Under the bill, the VA is authorized to determine the timing for offering a vaccine to the spouse of a veteran.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5671 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 21, 2021 Mr. Takano introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish seasonal influenza vaccines to certain individuals, and for other purposes.

1. Authority of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish seasonal influenza vaccines to certain individuals not enrolled in patient enrollment system of Department of Veterans Affairs Section 2 of the SAVE LIVES Act ( Public Law 117–4 ; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended— (1) by striking a vaccine for COVID–19 each place it appears and inserting a vaccine for COVID–19, a seasonal influenza vaccine, or both ; (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting and seasonal influenza vaccines after vaccines for COVID–19 ; and (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting , seasonal influenza vaccines, or both after vaccines for COVID–19 ; (3) in subsection (d), by striking Vaccine allocation in the heading and inserting COVID–19 Vaccine allocation ; (4) in subsection (e)— (A) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (7); and (B) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following new paragraph: (6) Seasonal influenza vaccine The term seasonal influenza vaccine means any product that is— (A) approved by the Food and Drug Administration; (B) commercially available; and (C) recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the prevention of influenza in a particular season. ; and (5) in the section heading by striking vaccine and inserting and influenza vaccines .

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5671 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish seasonal influenza vaccines to certain individuals, and for other purposes.

1. Authority of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish seasonal influenza vaccines to certain individuals not enrolled in patient enrollment system of Department of Veterans Affairs Section 2 of the SAVE LIVES Act ( Public Law 117–4 ; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended— (1) by striking a vaccine for COVID–19 each place it appears and inserting a vaccine for COVID–19, a seasonal influenza vaccine, or both ; (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting and seasonal influenza vaccines after vaccines for COVID–19 ; and (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting , seasonal influenza vaccines, or both after vaccines for COVID–19 ; (3) in subsection (d), by striking Vaccine allocation in the heading and inserting COVID–19 Vaccine allocation ; (4) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); (5) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new subsection (e): (e) Limitation on furnishing seasonal influenza vaccine A seasonal influenza vaccine may not be furnished under this section after April 29, 2022. ; (6) in subsection (f), as so redesignated— (A) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (7); and (B) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following new paragraph: (6) Seasonal influenza vaccine The term seasonal influenza vaccine means any product that is— (A) approved by the Food and Drug Administration; (B) commercially available; and (C) recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the prevention of influenza in a particular season. ; and (7) in the section heading by striking vaccine and inserting and influenza vaccines .

Passed the House of Representatives November 15, 2021. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.

tv_txt: IIB 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5671 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 16, 2021 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs AN ACT To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish seasonal influenza vaccines to certain individuals, and for other purposes.

1. Authority of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish seasonal influenza vaccines to certain individuals not enrolled in patient enrollment system of Department of Veterans Affairs Section 2 of the SAVE LIVES Act ( Public Law 117–4 ; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended— (1) by striking a vaccine for COVID–19 each place it appears and inserting a vaccine for COVID–19, a seasonal influenza vaccine, or both ; (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting and seasonal influenza vaccines after vaccines for COVID–19 ; and (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting , seasonal influenza vaccines, or both after vaccines for COVID–19 ; (3) in subsection (d), by striking Vaccine allocation in the heading and inserting COVID–19 Vaccine allocation ; (4) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); (5) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new subsection (e): (e) Limitation on furnishing seasonal influenza vaccine A seasonal influenza vaccine may not be furnished under this section after April 29, 2022. ; (6) in subsection (f), as so redesignated— (A) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (7); and (B) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following new paragraph: (6) Seasonal influenza vaccine The term seasonal influenza vaccine means any product that is— (A) approved by the Food and Drug Administration; (B) commercially available; and (C) recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the prevention of influenza in a particular season. ; and (7) in the section heading by striking vaccine and inserting and influenza vaccines .

Passed the House of Representatives November 15, 2021. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.