Vaccine Fairness Act

Bill: 117-hr-979
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]
Introduced: 2021-02-11
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Congressional oversight

Correctional facilities and imprisonment

Disability and paralysis

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Government information and archives

Health care coverage and access

Health information and medical records

Health programs administration and funding

Homelessness and emergency shelter

Immunology and vaccination

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care

Minority health

Public contracts and procurement

Refugees, asylum, displaced persons

Rural conditions and development

State and local government operations

Women's health
Latest action: action_date: 2021-02-12
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-02-11
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Vaccine Fairness Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide weekly reports to Congress concerning the distribution of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) vaccines to the public.</p> <p>HHS must also make publicly available certain data on the number of vaccine doses administered.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 979 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 11, 2021 Ms. Craig introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit to Congress a weekly report on COVID–19 vaccine distribution, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Vaccine Fairness Act . 2. COVID–19 vaccine distribution reports (a) Weekly report to Congress Not later than 7 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 7 days thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary ) shall submit to Congress a report on the effectiveness of efforts relating to the distribution of COVID–19 vaccines to the public. (b) Contents of report Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall include, with respect to the 7-day period preceding the date on which such report is submitted, the following: (1) The number of doses of COVID–19 vaccines distributed for administration to the public. (2) A description of any substantial purchase of COVID–19 vaccines by a Federal Government agency or private organization. (3) The number of doses of COVID–19 vaccines that were distributed to State or local health departments. (4) A description of the progress made in distributing COVID–19 vaccines to the following: (A) High-risk and other priority groups, including— (i) racial and ethnic minorities; (ii) individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding; (iii) individuals with disabilities; (iv) homeless individuals; (v) newly resettled refugees; and (vi) individuals in rural communities. (B) High-risk facilities, including— (i) long-term care facilities; (ii) group homes; and (iii) jails and prisons. (5) A description of any deviations from Federal distribution plans, including issues relating to the following: (A) Sites administering large numbers of COVID–19 vaccines, such as pharmacy chain stores, schools, and primary health care providers. (B) Tracking procedures for COVID–19 vaccines, particularly in areas of greatest need. (C) Outreach to health care providers and the public about the availability, benefits, safety, contraindications, and costs of receiving COVID–19 vaccines. (D) Outreach to health care providers regarding the responsibilities of such providers to track vaccine administration and monitor adverse events. (E) Recordkeeping and data collection relating to the administration of COVID–19 vaccines (including Federal support for State and local immunization information systems). (F) Overuse or gaps in treatment. (c) Public availability of certain data The Secretary shall make publicly available on an appropriate website of the Department of Health and Human Services, and regularly update, data on the number of doses of COVID–19 vaccines administered to the public, dis­ag­gre­gated with respect to each of the following: (1) Age. (2) Race. (3) Ethnicity. (4) ZIP Code. (d) Termination This section shall cease to have effect on the date that is 18 months after the date on which the initial report is submitted to Congress under subsection (a). (e) State defined In this section, the term State means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, and each federally recognized Indian Tribe.