Vaccine Fairness Act of 2020

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 8555 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. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OCTOBER 9, 2020 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 vac- cine distribution, and for other purposes. 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 ‘‘Vaccine Fairness Act 4 of 2020’’. 5 SEC. 2. COVID–19 VACCINE DISTRIBUTION REPORT. 6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 7 days after the 7 date on which the Federal Government begins distributing 8 COVID–19 vaccines for administration to the public, and 9 every 7 days thereafter, the Secretary of Health and 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:37 Oct 30, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8555.IH H8555 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 8555 IH Human Services (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Sec- 1 retary’’), in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, 2 shall submit to Congress a report on the effectiveness of 3 efforts relating to the distribution of COVID–19 vaccines 4 to the public. 5 (b) CONTENTS OF REPORT.—Each report submitted 6 under subsection (a) shall include, with respect to the 7- 7 day period preceding the date on which such report is sub- 8 mitted, the following: 9 (1) The number of doses of COVID–19 vaccines 10 distributed for administration to the public. 11 (2) A description of any substantial purchase of 12 COVID–19 vaccines by a Federal Government agen- 13 cy or private organization. 14 (3) The number of doses of COVID–19 vaccines 15 that were distributed to State or local health depart- 16 ments. 17 (4) A description of the progress made in dis- 18 tributing COVID–19 vaccines to the following: 19 (A) High-risk and other priority groups, 20 including— 21 (i) racial and ethnic minorities; 22 (ii) individuals who are pregnant or 23 breastfeeding; 24 (iii) individuals with disabilities; 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:37 Oct 30, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8555.IH H8555 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 8555 IH (iv) homeless individuals; 1 (v) newly resettled refugees; and 2 (vi) individuals in rural communities. 3 (B) High-risk facilities, including— 4 (i) long-term care facilities; 5 (ii) group homes; and 6 (iii) jails and prisons. 7 (5) A description of any deviations from Fed- 8 eral distribution plans, including issues relating to 9 the following: 10 (A) Sites administering large numbers of 11 COVID–19 vaccines, such as pharmacy chain 12 stores, schools, and primary health care pro- 13 viders. 14 (B) Tracking procedures for COVID–19 15 vaccines, particularly in areas of greatest need. 16 (C) Outreach to health care providers and 17 the public about the availability, benefits, safe- 18 ty, contraindications, and costs of receiving 19 COVID–19 vaccines. 20 (D) Outreach to health care providers re- 21 garding the responsibilities of such providers to 22 track vaccine administration and monitor ad- 23 verse events. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:37 Oct 30, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8555.IH H8555 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 8555 IH (E) Uniform record keeping relating to the 1 administration of COVID–19 vaccines (includ- 2 ing Federal support for State and local immuni- 3 zation information systems). 4 (F) Overuse or gaps in treatment. 5 (c) BRIEFINGS.—On each date on which the Sec- 6 retary submits to Congress a report under subsection (a), 7 the Secretary shall be available to brief Congress on the 8 contents of such report. 9 (d) TERMINATION.—This section shall cease to have 10 effect on the date that is 18 months after the date on 11 which the initial report is submitted to Congress under 12 subsection (a). 13 (e) STATE DEFINED.—In this section, the term 14 ‘‘State’’ means each of the several States, the District of 15 Columbia, each commonwealth, territory, or possession of 16 the United States, and each federally recognized Indian 17 Tribe. 18 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:37 Oct 30, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H8555.IH H8555 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS