Maternal Vaccinations Act

II 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 345 To establish a national campaign to increase maternal vaccination rates. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES FEBRUARY 22, 2021 Mr. KAINE introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To establish a national campaign to increase maternal vaccination rates. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Maternal Vaccinations 4 Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. MATERNAL VACCINATION AWARENESS AND EQUITY 6 CAMPAIGN. 7 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 8 Human Services (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Sec- 9 retary’’), acting through the Director of the Centers for 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:47 Feb 27, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S345.IS S345 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •S 345 IS Disease Control and Prevention, shall carry out a national 1 campaign to— 2 (1) increase awareness of the importance of ma- 3 ternal vaccinations for the health of pregnant and 4 postpartum individuals and their children; and 5 (2) increase maternal vaccination rates, with a 6 focus on communities with historically high rates of 7 unvaccinated individuals. 8 (b) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the campaign 9 under this section, the Secretary shall consult with rel- 10 evant community-based organizations, health care profes- 11 sional associations and public health associations, State 12 public health departments and local public health depart- 13 ments, Tribal-serving organizations, nonprofit organiza- 14 tions, and nationally recognized private entities. 15 (c) ACTIVITIES.—The campaign under this section 16 shall— 17 (1) focus on increasing maternal vaccination 18 rates in communities with historically high rates of 19 unvaccinated individuals, including for pregnant and 20 postpartum individuals from racial and ethnic mi- 21 nority groups; 22 (2) include efforts to engage with pregnant and 23 postpartum individuals in communities with histori- 24 cally high rates of unvaccinated individuals to seek 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:47 Feb 27, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S345.IS S345 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •S 345 IS input on the development and effectiveness of the 1 campaign; 2 (3) provide evidence-based, culturally congruent 3 resources and communications efforts; and 4 (4) be carried out in partnership with trusted 5 individuals and entities in communities with histori- 6 cally high rates of unvaccinated individuals, includ- 7 ing community-based organizations, community 8 health centers, perinatal health workers, and mater- 9 nity care providers. 10 (d) COLLABORATION.—The Secretary shall ensure 11 that the information and resources developed for the cam- 12 paign under this section are made publicly available and 13 shared with relevant Federal, State, and local entities. 14 (e) EVALUATION.—Not later than the end of fiscal 15 year 2025, the Secretary shall— 16 (1) establish quantitative and qualitative 17 metrics to evaluate the campaign under this section; 18 and 19 (2) submit a report detailing the impact of the 20 campaign under this section to Congress. 21 (f) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 22 (1) MATERNITY CARE PROVIDER.—The term 23 ‘‘maternity care provider’’ means a health care pro- 24 vider who— 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:47 Feb 27, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S345.IS S345 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •S 345 IS (A) is a physician, physician assistant, 1 midwife who meets at a minimum the inter- 2 national definition of the midwife and global 3 standards for midwifery education as estab- 4 lished by the International Confederation of 5 Midwives, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse 6 specialist; and 7 (B) has a focus on maternal or perinatal 8 health. 9 (2) PERINATAL HEALTH WORKER.—The term 10 ‘‘perinatal health worker’’ means a doula, commu- 11 nity health worker, peer supporter, breastfeeding 12 and lactation educator or counselor, nutritionist or 13 dietitian, childbirth educator, social worker, home 14 visitor, language interpreter, or navigator. 15 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 16 out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated 17 $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026. 18 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:47 Feb 27, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S345.IS S345 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS