[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 2, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7872-7876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02174]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Fifth Amendment to Declaration Under the Public Readiness and 
Emergency Preparedness Act for Medical Countermeasures Against COVID-19

ACTION: Notice of amendment.

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SUMMARY: The Acting Secretary issues this amendment pursuant to section 
319F-3 of the Public Health Service Act to add additional categories of 
Qualified Persons authorized to prescribe, dispense, and administer 
COVID-19 vaccines that are covered countermeasures under section VI of 
this Declaration.

DATES: This amendment to the Declaration is effective as of February 2, 
2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: L. Paige Ezernack, Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Office of the 
Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence 
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20201; Telephone: 202-260-0365; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Public Readiness and Emergency 
Preparedness Act (PREP Act) authorizes the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services (the Secretary) to issue a Declaration to provide 
liability immunity to certain individuals and entities (Covered 
Persons) against any claim of loss caused by, arising out of, relating 
to, or resulting from the manufacture, distribution, administration, or 
use of medical countermeasures (Covered Countermeasures), except for 
claims involving ``willful misconduct'' as defined in the PREP Act. 
Under the PREP Act, a Declaration may be amended as circumstances 
warrant.
    The PREP Act was enacted on December 30, 2005, as Public Law 109-
148, Division C, section 2. It amended the Public Health Service (PHS) 
Act, adding section 319F-3, which addresses liability immunity, and 
section 319F-4, which creates a compensation program. These sections 
are codified at 42 U.S.C. 247d-6d and 42 U.S.C. 247d-6e, respectively. 
Section 319F-3 of the PHS Act has been amended by the Pandemic and All-
Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act (PAHPRA), Public Law 113-5, 
enacted on March 13, 2013 and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic 
Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136, enacted on March 27, 2020, to 
expand Countermeasures under the PREP Act.
    On January 31, 2020, former Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a 
public health emergency pursuant to section 319 of the PHS Act, 42 
U.S.C. 247d, effective January 27, 2020, for the entire United States 
to aid in the response of the nation's health care community to the 
COVID-19 outbreak. Pursuant to section 319 of the PHS Act, the 
Secretary renewed that declaration effective on April 26, 2020, July 
25, 2020, October 23, 2020, and January 21, 2121.
    On March 10, 2020, former Secretary Azar issued a Declaration under 
the PREP Act for medical countermeasures against COVID-19 (85 FR 15198, 
Mar. 17, 2020) (the Declaration). On April 10, the former Secretary 
amended the Declaration under the PREP Act to extend liability immunity 
to covered countermeasures authorized under the CARES Act (85 FR 21012, 
Apr. 15, 2020). On June 4, the former Secretary amended the Declaration 
to clarify that covered countermeasures under the Declaration include 
qualified countermeasures that limit the harm COVID-19 might otherwise 
cause. (85 FR 35100, June 8, 2020) On August 19, the former Secretary 
amended the declaration to add additional categories of Qualified 
Persons and amend the category of disease, health condition, or threat 
for which he recommended the administration or use of the Covered 
Countermeasures. (85 FR 51236, August 24, 2020). On December 3, 2020, 
the former Secretary amended the declaration to incorporate Advisory 
Opinions of the General Counsel interpreting the PREP Act and the

[[Page 7873]]

Secretary's Declaration and authorizations issued by the Department's 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health as an Authority Having 
Jurisdiction to respond; added an additional category of qualified 
persons under Section V of the Declaration; made explicit that the 
Declaration covers all qualified pandemic and epidemic products as 
defined under the PREP Act; added a third method of distribution to 
provide liability protections for, among other things, private 
distribution channels; made explicit that there can be situations where 
not administering a covered countermeasure to a particular individual 
can fall within the PREP Act and the Declaration's liability 
protections; made explicit that there are substantive Federal legal and 
policy issues and interests in having a unified whole-of-nation 
response to the COVID-19 pandemic among Federal, state, local, and 
private-sector entities; revised the effective time period of the 
Declaration; and republished the declaration in full. (85 FR 79190 
December 9, 2020).
    The Acting Secretary now amends section V of the Declaration to add 
additional categories of qualified persons covered under the PREP Act, 
and thus authorizes:
    (f) Any healthcare professional or other individual who holds an 
active license or certification permitting the person to prescribe, 
dispense, or administer vaccines under the law of any State as of the 
effective date of this amendment, or as authorized under section V(d) 
of this Declaration, who prescribes, dispenses, or administers COVID-19 
vaccines that are Covered Countermeasures under section VI of this 
Declaration in any jurisdiction where the PREP Act applies, other than 
the State in which the license or certification is held, in association 
with a COVID-19 vaccination effort by a federal, State, local, Tribal, 
or territorial authority or by an institution in the State in which the 
COVID-19 vaccine covered countermeasure is administered, so long as the 
license or certification of the healthcare professional has not been 
suspended or restricted by any licensing authority, surrendered while 
under suspension, discipline or investigation by a licensing authority 
or surrendered following an arrest, and the individual is not on the 
List of Excluded Individuals/Entities maintained by the Office of 
Inspector General, subject to:
    (i) Documentation of completion of the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention COVID-19 (CDC) Vaccine Training Modules \1\ and, for 
healthcare providers who are not currently practicing, documentation of 
an observation period by a currently practicing healthcare professional 
adequately experienced in vaccination who confirms competency of the 
healthcare provider in preparation and administration of the particular 
COVID-19 vaccine(s) to be administered; and
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    \1\ See COVID-19 Vaccine Training Modules, available at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/training.html.
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    (g) Any physician, advanced practice registered nurse, registered 
nurse, or practical nurse who has held an active license or 
certification to prescribe, dispense, or administer vaccines under the 
law of any State within the last five years, which is inactive, expired 
or lapsed, who prescribes, dispenses, or administers COVID-19 vaccines 
that are Covered Countermeasures under section VI of this Declaration 
in any jurisdiction where the PREP Act applies in association with a 
COVID-19 vaccination effort by a federal, State, local, tribal or 
territorial authority or by an institution in which the COVID-19 
vaccine covered countermeasure is administered, so long as the license 
or certification was active and in good standing prior to the date it 
went inactive, expired or lapsed and was not revoked by the licensing 
authority, surrendered while under suspension, discipline, or 
investigation by a licensing authority or surrendered following an 
arrest, and the individual is not on the List of Excluded Individuals/
Entities maintained by the Office of Inspector General, subject to (i) 
documentation of completion of the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention COVID-19 Vaccine Training Modules and (ii) documentation of 
an observation period by a currently practicing healthcare professional 
adequately experienced in vaccination who confirms competency of the 
healthcare provider in preparation and administration of the particular 
COVID-19 vaccine(s) to be administered.

Description of This Amendment by Section

Section V. Covered Persons

    Under the PREP Act and the Declaration, a ``qualified person'' is a 
``covered person.'' Subject to certain limitations, a covered person is 
immune from suit and liability under Federal and State law with respect 
to all claims for loss caused by, arising out of, relating to, or 
resulting from the administration or use of a covered countermeasure if 
a declaration under the PREP Act has been issued with respect to such 
countermeasure. ``Qualified person'' includes (A) a licensed health 
professional or other individual who is authorized to prescribe, 
administer, or dispense such countermeasures under the law of the State 
in which the countermeasure was prescribed, administered, or dispensed; 
or (B) ``a person within a category of persons so identified in a 
declaration by the Secretary'' under subsection (b) of the PREP Act. 42 
U.S.C. 247d-6d(i)(8).
    By this amendment to the Declaration, the Acting Secretary 
identifies two additional categories of persons who are qualified 
persons under section 247d-6d(i)(8)(B), allowing healthcare providers 
who are licensed in a State to prescribe, dispense, and/or administer 
COVID-19 vaccines in any State or jurisdiction where the PREP Act 
applies, and allowing physicians, registered nurses, and practical 
nurses whose licenses expired within the past five years to prescribe, 
dispense, and/or administer COVID-19 vaccines in any State.
    The Acting Secretary has determined that there is an urgent need to 
expand the pool of available COVID-19 vaccinators in order to respond 
effectively to the pandemic. As vaccine supply is made more widely 
available over the coming months, health care system capacity and the 
vaccination workforce are likely to become increasingly strained 
throughout the Nation. Permitting Physicians, registered nurses, and 
practical nurses who have recently expired licenses also significantly 
expands the vaccination workforce. There are approximately 160,000 
inactive physicians and 350,000 inactive registered nurses and 
practical nurses in the United States.
    These healthcare professionals can safely administer COVID-19 
vaccines because they all have training in performing injections and 
observing for side effects and will be required to document completion 
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 
Vaccine Training Modules.
    Including these healthcare professionals as Qualified Persons under 
this amended Declaration achieves two purposes. First, the healthcare 
professionals will be afforded liability protections in accordance with 
the PREP Act and the terms of this amended Declaration. Second, any 
State law that would otherwise prohibit the healthcare professionals 
who are a ``qualified person'' from prescribing, dispensing, or 
administering COVID-19 vaccines is preempted. On May 19, 2020, the 
Office of the General Counsel issued an advisory opinion concluding 
that, because licensed pharmacists are

[[Page 7874]]

``qualified persons'' under this declaration, the PREP Act preempts 
state law that would otherwise prohibit such pharmacists from ordering 
and administering authorized COVID-19 diagnostic tests.\2\ The opinion 
relied in part on the fact that the Congressional delegation of 
authority to the Secretary under the PREP Act to specify a class of 
persons, beyond those who are authorized to administer a covered 
countermeasure under State law, as ``qualified persons'' would be 
rendered a nullity in the absence of such preemption. This opinion is 
incorporated by reference into this declaration. Based on the reasoning 
set forth in the May 19, 2020 advisory opinion, any State law that 
would otherwise prohibit a member of any of the classes of ``qualified 
persons'' specified in this declaration from administering a covered 
countermeasure is likewise preempted. In accordance with section 319F-
3(i)(8)(A) of the Public Health Service Act, a State remains free to 
expand the universe of individuals authorized to administer covered 
countermeasures within its jurisdiction under State law.
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    \2\ Department of Health and Human Services General Counsel 
Advisory Opinion on the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness 
Act, May 19, 2020, available at: https://www.hhs.gov/guidance/sites/default/files/hhs-guidance-documents/prep-act-advisory-opinion-hhs-ogc.pdf/ (last visited Jan. 24, 2021). See also, Department of 
Justice Office of Legal Counsel Advisory Opinion for Robert P. 
Charrow, General Counsel of the Department of Health and Human 
Services, January 12, 2020, available at: https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/opinions/attachments/2021/01/19/2021-01-19-prep-act-preemption.pdf (last visited Jan. 24, 2021).
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    The plain language of the PREP Act makes clear that there is 
complete preemption of state law as described above. Furthermore, 
preemption of State law is justified to respond to the nation-wide 
public health emergency caused by COVID-19 as it will enable States to 
quickly expand the vaccination workforce with additional qualified 
healthcare professionals where State or local requirements might 
otherwise inhibit or delay allowing these healthcare professionals to 
participate in the COVID-19 vaccination program.

Amendments to Declaration

    Amended Declaration for Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness 
Act Coverage for medical countermeasures against COVID-19.
    Section V of the March 10, 2020 Declaration under the PREP Act for 
medical countermeasures against COVID-19, as amended April 10, 2020, 
June 4, 2020, and August 19, 2020 and amended and republished on 
December 3, 2020 is further amended pursuant to section 319F-3(b)(4) of 
the PHS Act as described below. All other sections of the Declaration 
remain in effect as republished at 85 FR 79190 (December 9, 2020).
    1. Covered Persons, section V, delete in full and replace with:
V. Covered Persons
42 U.S.C. 247d-6d(i)(2), (3), (4), (6), (8)(A) and (B)
    Covered Persons who are afforded liability immunity under this 
Declaration are ``manufacturers,'' ``distributors,'' ``program 
planners,'' ``qualified persons,'' and their officials, agents, and 
employees, as those terms are defined in the PREP Act, and the United 
States. ``Order'' as used herein and in guidance issued by the Office 
of the Assistant Secretary for Health \3\ means a provider medication 
order, which includes prescribing of vaccines, or a laboratory order, 
which includes prescribing laboratory orders, if required. In addition, 
I have determined that the following additional persons are qualified 
persons:
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    \3\ See Guidance for Licensed Pharmacists, COVID-19 Testing, and 
Immunity Under the PREP Act, OASH, Apr. 8, 2020, available at 
https://www.hhs.gov/guidance/sites/default/files/hhs-guidance-documents//authorizing-licensed-pharmacists-to-order-and-administer-covid-19-tests.pdf (last visited Jan. 24, 2021); Guidance for 
Licensed Pharmacists and Pharmacy Interns Regarding COVID-19 
Vaccines and Immunity under the PREP Act, OASH, Sept. 3, 2020, 
available at https://www.hhs.gov/guidance/sites/default/files/hhs-guidance-documents//licensed-pharmacists-and-pharmacy-interns-regarding-covid-19-vaccines-immunity.pdf (last visited Jan. 24, 
2021).
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    (a) Any person authorized in accordance with the public health and 
medical emergency response of the Authority Having Jurisdiction, as 
described in Section VII below, to prescribe, administer, deliver, 
distribute or dispense the Covered Countermeasures, and their 
officials, agents, employees, contractors and volunteers, following a 
Declaration of an Emergency, as that term is defined in Section VII of 
this Declaration; \4\
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    \4\ See, e.g., Guidance for Licensed Pharmacists, COVID-19 
Testing, and Immunity Under the PREP Act, OASH, Apr. 8, 2020, 
available at https://www.hhs.gov/guidance/sites/default/files/hhs-guidance-documents//authorizing-licensed-pharmacists-to-order-and-administer-covid-19-tests.pdf (last visited Jan. 24, 2021); Guidance 
for PREP Act Coverage for COVID-19 Screening Tests at Nursing Homes, 
Assisted-Living Facilities, Long-Term-Care Facilities, and other 
Congregate Facilities, OASH, Aug. 31, 2020, available at https://www.hhs.gov/guidance/sites/default/files/hhs-guidance-documents//prep-act-coverage-for-screening-in-congregate-settings.pdf (last 
visited Jan. 24, 2021); Guidance for Licensed Pharmacists and 
Pharmacy Interns Regarding COVID-19 Vaccines and Immunity under the 
PREP Act, OASH, Sept. 3, 2020, available at https://www.hhs.gov/guidance/sites/default/files/hhs-guidance-documents//licensed-pharmacists-and-pharmacy-interns-regarding-covid-19-vaccines-immunity.pdf (last visited Jan. 24, 2021); Guidance for PREP Act 
Coverage for Qualified Pharmacy Technicians and State-Authorized 
Pharmacy Interns for Childhood Vaccines, COVID-19 Vaccines, and 
COVID-19 Testing, OASH, Oct. 20, 2020, available at https://www.hhs.gov/guidance/sites/default/files/hhs-guidance-documents//prep-act-guidance.pdf (last visited Jan. 24, 2021); PREP Act 
Authorization for Pharmacies Distributing and Administering Certain 
Covered Countermeasures, Oct. 29, 2020, available at https://www.hhs.gov/guidance/sites/default/files/hhs-guidance-documents//prep-act-authorization-pharmacies-administering-covered-countermeasures.pdf (last visited Jan. 24, 2021) (collectively, OASH 
PREP Act Authorizations). Nothing herein shall suggest that, for 
purposes of the Declaration, the foregoing are the only persons 
authorized in accordance with the public health and medical 
emergency response of the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
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    (b) Any person authorized to prescribe, administer, or dispense the 
Covered Countermeasures or who is otherwise authorized to perform an 
activity under an Emergency Use Authorization in accordance with 
Section 564 of the FD&C Act;
    (c) Any person authorized to prescribe, administer, or dispense 
Covered Countermeasures in accordance with Section 564A of the FD&C 
Act;
    (d) A State-licensed pharmacist who orders and administers, and 
pharmacy interns who administer (if the pharmacy intern acts under the 
supervision of such pharmacist and the pharmacy intern is licensed or 
registered by his or her State board of pharmacy),\5\ (1) vaccines that 
the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends to 
persons ages three through 18 according to ACIP's standard immunization 
schedule or (2) FDA authorized or FDA licensed COVID -19 vaccines to 
persons ages three or older. Such State-licensed pharmacists and the 
State-licensed or registered interns under their supervision are 
qualified persons only if the following requirements are met:
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    \5\ Some states do not require pharmacy interns to be licensed 
or registered by the state board of pharmacy. As used herein, 
``State-licensed or registered intern'' (or equivalent phrases) 
refers to pharmacy interns authorized by the state or board of 
pharmacy in the state in which the practical pharmacy internship 
occurs. The authorization can, but need not, take the form of a 
license from, or registration with, the State board of pharmacy. See 
Guidance for PREP Act Coverage for Qualified Pharmacy Technicians 
and State-Authorized Pharmacy Interns for Childhood Vaccines, COVID-
19 Vaccines, and COVID-19 Testing, OASH, Oct. 20, 2020 at 2, 
available at https://www.hhs.gov/guidance/sites/default/files/hhs-guidance-documents//prep-act-guidance.pdf (last visited Jan. 24, 
2021).
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    i. The vaccine must be authorized, approved, or licensed by the 
FDA;
    ii. In the case of a COVID-19 vaccine, the vaccination must be 
ordered and administered according to ACIP's COVID-19 vaccine 
recommendation(s).

[[Page 7875]]

    iii. In the case of a childhood vaccine, the vaccination must be 
ordered and administered according to ACIP's standard immunization 
schedule;
    iv. The licensed pharmacist must have completed the immunization 
training that the licensing State requires in order for pharmacists to 
order and administer vaccines. If the State does not specify training 
requirements for the licensed pharmacist to order and administer 
vaccines, the licensed pharmacist must complete a vaccination training 
program of at least 20 hours that is approved by the Accreditation 
Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) to order and administer vaccines. 
Such a training program must include hands on injection technique, 
clinical evaluation of indications and contraindications of vaccines, 
and the recognition and treatment of emergency reactions to vaccines;
    v. The licensed or registered pharmacy intern must complete a 
practical training program that is approved by the ACPE. This training 
program must include hands-on injection technique, clinical evaluation 
of indications and contraindications of vaccines, and the recognition 
and treatment of emergency reactions to vaccines;
    vi. The licensed pharmacist and licensed or registered pharmacy 
intern must have a current certificate in basic cardiopulmonary 
resuscitation; \6\
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    \6\ This requirement is satisfied by, among other things, a 
certification in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation by an online 
program that has received accreditation from the American Nurses 
Credentialing Center, the ACPE, or the Accreditation Council for 
Continuing Medical Education. The phrase ``current certificate in 
basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation,'' when used in the September 3, 
2020 or October 20, 2020 OASH authorizations, shall be interpreted 
the same way. See Guidance for Licensed Pharmacists and Pharmacy 
Interns Regarding COVID-19 Vaccines and Immunity under the PREP Act, 
OASH, Sept. 3, 2020, available at https://www.hhs.gov/guidance/sites/default/files/hhs-guidance-documents//licensed-pharmacists-and-pharmacy-interns-regarding-covid-19-vaccines-immunity.pdf (last 
visited Jan. 24, 2021); Guidance for PREP Act Coverage for Qualified 
Pharmacy Technicians and State-Authorized Pharmacy Interns for 
Childhood Vaccines, COVID-19 Vaccines, and COVID-19 Testing, OASH, 
Oct. 20, 2020, available at https://www.hhs.gov/guidance/sites/default/files/hhs-guidance-documents//prep-act-guidance.pdf (last 
visited Jan. 24, 2021).
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    vii. The licensed pharmacist must complete a minimum of two hours 
of ACPE-approved, immunization-related continuing pharmacy education 
during each State licensing period;
    viii. The licensed pharmacist must comply with recordkeeping and 
reporting requirements of the jurisdiction in which he or she 
administers vaccines, including informing the patient's primary-care 
provider when available, submitting the required immunization 
information to the State or local immunization information system 
(vaccine registry), complying with requirements with respect to 
reporting adverse events, and complying with requirements whereby the 
person administering a vaccine must review the vaccine registry or 
other vaccination records prior to administering a vaccine;
    ix. The licensed pharmacist must inform his or her childhood-
vaccination patients and the adult caregiver accompanying the child of 
the importance of a well-child visit with a pediatrician or other 
licensed primary care provider and refer patients as appropriate; and
    x. The licensed pharmacist and the licensed or registered pharmacy 
intern must comply with any applicable requirements (or conditions of 
use) as set forth in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC) COVID-19 vaccination provider agreement and any other federal 
requirements that apply to the administration of COVID- 19 vaccine(s).
    (e) Healthcare personnel using telehealth to order or administer 
Covered Countermeasures for patients in a state other than the state 
where the healthcare personnel are licensed or otherwise permitted to 
practice. When ordering and administering Covered Countermeasures by 
means of telehealth to patients in a state where the healthcare 
personnel are not already permitted to practice, the healthcare 
personnel must comply with all requirements for ordering and 
administering Covered Countermeasures to patients by means of 
telehealth in the state where the healthcare personnel are permitted to 
practice. Any state law that prohibits or effectively prohibits such a 
qualified person from ordering and administering Covered 
Countermeasures by means of telehealth is preempted.\7\ Nothing in this 
Declaration shall preempt state laws that permit additional persons to 
deliver telehealth services.
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    \7\ See, e.g., Advisory Opinion 20-02 on the Public Readiness 
and Emergency Preparedness Act and the Secretary's Declaration under 
the Act, May 19, 2020, available at https://www.hhs.gov/guidance/sites/default/files/hhs-guidance-documents/advisory-opinion-20-02-hhs-ogc-prep-act.pdf (last visited Jan. 24, 2021).
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    (f) Any healthcare professional or other individual who holds an 
active license or certification permitting the person to prescribe, 
dispense, or administer vaccines under the law of any State as of the 
effective date of this amendment, or as authorized under the section 
V(d) of this Declaration, who prescribes, dispenses, or administers 
COVID-19 vaccines that are Covered Countermeasures under section VI of 
this Declaration in any jurisdiction where the PREP Act applies, other 
than the State in which the license or certification is held, in 
association with a COVID-19 vaccination effort by a federal, State, 
local Tribal or territorial authority or by an institution in the State 
in which the COVID-19 vaccine covered countermeasure is administered, 
so long as the license or certification of the healthcare professional 
has not been suspended or restricted by any licensing authority, 
surrendered while under suspension, discipline or investigation by a 
licensing authority or surrendered following an arrest, and the 
individual is not on the List of Excluded Individuals/Entities 
maintained by the Office of Inspector General, subject to: (i) 
Documentation of completion of the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention COVID-19 (CDC) Vaccine Training Modules \8\ and, for 
healthcare providers who are not currently practicing, documentation of 
an observation period by a currently practicing healthcare professional 
adequately experienced in vaccination who confirms competency of the 
healthcare provider in preparation and administration of the particular 
COVID-19 vaccine(s) to be administered; and
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    \8\ See COVID-19 Vaccine Training Modules, available at https://www2.cdc.gov/vaccines/ed/covid19/index.asp (last visited Jan. 23, 
2021) https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/training.html.
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    (g) Any physician, advanced practice registered nurse, registered 
nurse, or practical nurse who has held an active license or 
certification to prescribe, dispense, or administer vaccines under the 
law of any State within the last five years, which is inactive, expired 
or lapsed, who prescribes, dispenses, or administers COVID-19 vaccines 
that are Covered Countermeasures under section VI of this Declaration 
in any jurisdiction where the PREP Act applies in association with a 
COVID-19 vaccination effort by a federal, State, local, Tribal or 
territorial authority or by an institution in which the COVID-19 
vaccine covered countermeasure is administered, so long as the license 
or certification was active and in good standing prior to the date it 
went inactive, expired or lapsed and was not revoked by the licensing 
authority, surrendered while under suspension, discipline or 
investigation by a licensing authority or surrendered following an 
arrest, and the individual is not on the List of Excluded Individuals/
Entities maintained by the Office of Inspector

[[Page 7876]]

General, subject to (i) documentation of completion of the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Vaccine Training Modules and 
(ii) documentation of an observation period by a currently practicing 
healthcare professional adequately experienced in vaccination who 
confirms competency of the healthcare provider in preparation and 
administration of the particular COVID-19 vaccine(s) to be 
administered.
    Nothing in this Declaration shall be construed to affect the 
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, including an injured 
party's ability to obtain compensation under that program. Covered 
countermeasures that are subject to the National Vaccine Injury 
Compensation Program authorized under 42 U.S.C. 300aa-10 et seq. are 
covered under this Declaration for the purposes of liability immunity 
and injury compensation only to the extent that injury compensation is 
not provided under that Program. All other terms and conditions of the 
Declaration apply to such covered countermeasures.
    2. Effective Time Period, section XII, add to the end of the 
section:
    Liability protections for Qualified Persons under sections V(f) and 
V(d) of the declaration begin on January 28, 2021, and last through 
October 1, 2024.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 247d-6d.

Norris Cochran,
Acting Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 2021-02174 Filed 1-29-21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4150-37-P