Maternal Vaccination Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8024
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-19: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-03T22:20:50Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Maternal Vaccination Act (H.R. 8024) aims to improve vaccination awareness and equity for pregnant and postpartum individuals by amending the Public Health Service Act. It expands existing public health campaigns to address low vaccination rates in this group, with a focus on racial and ethnic minorities.
Key Provisions
- Expands Section 313 (Vaccination Awareness Campaign):
- Adds pregnant and postpartum individuals to efforts targeting low vaccination rates.
- Updates campaign activities to include prenatal, obstetric (related to pregnancy and childbirth), and pediatric care.
- Broadens outreach to explicitly include pregnant and postpartum individuals.
- Increases annual funding from $15 million (fiscal years 2021–2025) to $17 million for fiscal years 2027–2031.
- Updates Section 317 (Additional Public Health Activities):
- Adds a new requirement to increase vaccination rates among pregnant and postpartum individuals (especially from racial and ethnic minority groups) and their children.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Broadens the scope of ongoing vaccination awareness programs (under Sections 313 and 317 of the Public Health Service Act) to prioritize maternal health.
- Shifts funding timeline forward (from 2021–2025 to 2027–2031) and raises the amount by $2 million per year.
- Introduces explicit focus on equity for racial and ethnic minorities in maternal vaccination efforts.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), likely through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will manage expanded campaigns and allocate an additional ~$40 million in funding over five years.
- Citizens: Pregnant and postpartum individuals, particularly from minority groups, and their children may see improved access to vaccination information and higher immunization rates, potentially reducing maternal and infant health risks.
- No direct international relations impact noted.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Pregnant and postpartum individuals, especially racial and ethnic minorities.
- Their infants and young children.
- Healthcare providers in prenatal, obstetric, and pediatric fields.
- Federal public health agencies (e.g., CDC/HHS) responsible for campaign implementation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Straightforward amendments to existing public health law; no new mandates or enforcement mechanisms.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges; aligns with Congress's authority over public health funding.
- Political: Emphasizes health equity and maternal care, potentially influencing future funding debates on minority-focused public health initiatives.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-19: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-03-19: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-19: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Maternal Vaccination Act — issued 2026-03-19 — PDF (2 pages)