117 HR 1276 IH: Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans’ and Caregivers’ COVID–19 Immunizations Now Expanded Act of 2021 U.S. House of Representatives 2021-02-24 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 1276IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFebruary 24, 2021Mr. Takano (for himself and Mr. Bost) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsA BILLTo authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish COVID–19 vaccines to certain individuals, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans’ and Caregivers’ COVID–19 Immunizations Now Expanded Act of 2021 or the VA VACCINE Act of 2021.

2.

Authority of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish COVID–19 vaccines to certain individuals

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may furnish a COVID–19 vaccine to a covered individual during the COVID–19 public health emergency.(b)

Vaccines furnished abroad

In the case of an individual who is a covered individual by reason of subsection (d)(1)(B), the Secretary may furnish a COVID–19 vaccine to such individual under subsection (a) regardless of whether the Secretary determines that such vaccine is needed for the treatment of a service-connected disability of the veteran or as part of a rehabilitation program under chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code.(c)

Enrolled veteran priority

In furnishing COVID–19 vaccines, the Secretary shall—(1)prioritize the vaccination of veterans who are enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code, over the vaccination of covered individuals under this section; and(2)only furnish such vaccines to covered individuals under this section to the extent that such vaccines are available.(d)

Definitions

In this section:(1)The term covered individual means any of the following:(A)A veteran who is not eligible to enroll in the patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code.(B)A veteran who is eligible for care under section 1724 of such title.(C)A family caregiver of an eligible veteran participating in the program of comprehensive assistance for family caregivers under section 1720G(a) of such title.(D)A caregiver of a covered veteran participating in the program of general caregiver support services under section 1720G(b) of such title.(E)A caregiver of a veteran participating in the Medical Foster Home Program, Bowel and Bladder Program, Home Based Primary Care Program, or Veteran Directed Care Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.(2)The term COVID–19 means the coronavirus disease 2019.(3)The term COVID–19 public health emergency means the public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on January 27, 2020, with respect to the coronavirus disease 2019.