,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dgcg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #bd1 #bjbj ,ms4 ,smith introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,public ,health ,service ,act to direct the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services to make grants to covered health departments to increase the rate of recommended immunizations1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,community ,immunity ,during ,,covid-#ai ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,grants to increase the rate of immunizations ,section #cag of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bdg;b7 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7n7 ,grants ,to increase the rate of immunizations 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 shall make grants to covered health departments to increase the rate of recommended immunizations during the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency4 7#b7 ,use of funds ,a covered health department receiving a grant under this section may use funds received through the grant for the following3 7,a7 ,providing funds to programs that increase the rate of recommended immunizations during the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency1 including supporting evidence-based outreach and educational activities in communities served by the covered health department involved4 7,b7 ,supporting efforts by health care providers to communicate the importance of maintaining immunization schedules and visiting a primary care provider during the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency4 7,c7 ,increasing awareness with respect to health insurance options and programs that reduce the cost of vaccines1 including the ,vaccines for ,children program 7or similar program7 carried out by the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention4 7,d7 ,evaluating efforts to increase the rate of recommended immunizations in communities described in subparagraph 7,a7 during the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency4 7,e7 ,developing and distributing culturally and linguistically appropriate messages about the importance of recommended immunizations during the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency1 including vaccines licensed under section #cea of this ,act to prevent the virus that causes ,,covid-#ai4 7,f7 ,combating misinformation and disinformation with respect to vaccines and the safety of vaccines1 including a vaccine that will be licensed under section #cea of this ,act or authorized for emergency use under section #efd of the ,federal ,food1 ,drug1 and ,cosmetic ,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;bbb-#c7 to prevent the virus that causes ,,covid-#ai4 7#c7 ,partnerships ,a covered health department that receives a grant under this section may develop a partnership with entities and individuals in the communities served by the ,state1 local1 or ,tribal government involved to carry out the activities under paragraph 7#c71 including-- 7,a7 a health care provider2 7,b7 a local educational agency1 including school nurses employed by such agencies2 7,c7 an organization that primarily provides health care or social services for-- 7i7 groups that have a low rate of immunizations2 7ii7 individuals with a chronic health condition or underlying medical condition associated with increased risk for severe illness from ,,covid-#ai2 7iii7 racial and ethnic minority1 rural1 and other vulnerable populations2 or 7iv7 individuals with a limited proficiency in the ,english language2 7,d7 a faith-based organization2 7,e7 a long-term care facility1 senior center1 or other facility in which recommended immunizations for older adults may be provided or promoted by the staff of such facility or center2 7,f7 a vaccine coalition2 7,g7 a pediatric hospital2 7,h7 a pharmacy2 7,i7 an early childhood education program or child care provider2 7,j7 a public elementary1 or secondary school2 or 7,k7 an institution of higher education4 7#d7 ,evaluation ,not later than #ah months after the date on which a covered health department receives a grant under this subsection1 the covered health department shall submit to the ,secretary an evaluation on the effectiveness of the activities carried out using such funds to increase the rate of recommended immunizations4 7#e7 ,report to ,congress ,not later than #b years after the date of the enactment of this subsection1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report that includes-- 7,a7 an evaluation of the effectiveness of the activities under paragraph 7#c7 to increase the rate of recommended immunizations1 based on the evaluations submitted pursuant to paragraph 7#f72 and 7,b7 recommendations to increase the rate of recommended immunizations1 including recommendations with respect to any public health emergency that occurs in the future4 7#f7 ,definitions 7,a7 ,in general ,in this subsection3 7i7 ,covered health department ,the term covered health department means the public health department of a ,state1 local1 or ,tribal government4 7ii7 ,,covid-#ai public health emergency ,the term ,,covid-#ai public health emergency means the public health emergency declared by the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services under section #cai of this ,act on ,january #ca1 #bjbj1 with respect to ,,covid-#ai4 7iii7 ,early childhood education program ,the term early childhood education program has the meaning given such term in section #ajc of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjc74 7iv7 ,indian tribe ,the term ,indian tribe has the meaning given such term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7v7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja74 7vi7 ,recommended immunizations ,the term recommended immunizations means immunizations recommended by the ,advisory ,committee on ,immunization ,practices of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention4 7vii7 ,tribal organization ,the term tribal organization has the meaning given such term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7,b7 ,other terms ,in this subsection1 the terms elementary school1 secondary school1 and local educational agency have the meanings given such terms in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#g7 ,authorization of appropriations 7,a7 ,in general ,to carry out this subsection1 there is authorized to be appropriated1 #efj1jjj1jjj to remain available until expended4 7,b7 ,apportionment ,in awarding grant funds under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall apportion the amounts appropriated to carry out this subsection as follows3 7i7 ,not less than #ej percent of such funds to ,state and ,tribal public health departments4 7ii7 ,not less than #ej percent of such funds to local health departments4 7iii7 ,based on the population of the ,state1 local1 or ,tribal government involved4 7,c7 ,tribal funds ,of total amount appropriated under subparagraph 7,a71 not less than #c percent and not more than #e percent of such amount shall be reserved for non-competitive and formula-based awards to ,indian ,tribes and ,tribal organizations4 4 #c4 ,,covid-#ai vaccine guidance 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #c months after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention 7in this section referred to as the ,director71 in consultation with the ,advisory ,committee on ,immunization ,practices and ,centers for ,medicare ,medicaid ,services1 shall develop and distribute to health care providers and ,state education agencies guidance to provide health counseling services with respect to a vaccine licensed under section #cea of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bfb7 or authorized for emergency use under section #efd of the ,federal ,food1 ,drug1 and ,cosmetic ,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;bbb-#c7 for the prevention1 mitigation1 or treatment of ,,covid-#ai4 7b7 ,content ,the guidance developed pursuant to subsection 7a7 shall-- 7#a7 be aligned with evidence-based practices2 and 7#b7 include information that is culturally appropriate4 7c7 ,update ,the ,director shall periodically update and distribute1 as appropriate1 the guidance developed pursuant to subsection 7a74 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section1 #b1ejj1jjj to remain available until expended4