Family Vaccine Protection Act
- Bill Number
- S. 3323
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-19: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-03T11:03:23Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation, known as the Family Vaccine Protection Act, amends the Public Health Service Act to establish the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in statute. It aims to formalize ACIP's role in providing evidence-based vaccine recommendations and to strengthen requirements for changes to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program's injury table.
Key Provisions
- Codification of ACIP: Adds a new section 222A to Title II of the Public Health Service Act, detailing ACIP's structure, operations, and duties.
- Recommendation Process: ACIP must base advice on a preponderance of the best available peer-reviewed scientific evidence. The CDC Director must adopt recommendations unless they lack such support, with requirements for public publication and notification to congressional committees within 48 hours.
- Timelines for New Vaccines: ACIP must consider newly licensed vaccines or indications within set periods, including at the next scheduled meeting and within 90 days of notification.
- Duties: ACIP provides guidance on vaccine use, establishes lists for the Vaccines for Children Program, and supports insurance coverage requirements under section 2713. It may also address emergency use authorizations.
- Membership and Operations: The Secretary appoints 15–19 voting members with specified expertise (e.g., epidemiology, immunology), selected from Comptroller General recommendations. Includes 6 non-voting ex-officio members from federal agencies. Meetings occur at least three times per year and must be open to the public.
- Vaccine Injury Table Amendment: Any removal or modification of vaccines from the table, or changes to covered injuries, must be supported by a preponderance of the best available scientific evidence.
- Funding: Authorizes $2.8 million annually for fiscal years 2026–2029 to support ACIP operations.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Elevates ACIP from an administrative body (previously under section 222) to a statutorily defined committee with explicit procedures, membership criteria, and oversight mechanisms.
- Introduces mandatory timelines, publication rules, and congressional notifications that did not previously exist in statute.
- Adds an evidence standard for Vaccine Injury Table modifications, limiting discretionary changes without scientific backing.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases procedural requirements for the CDC, HHS, and CMS in vaccine policy decisions, potentially reducing flexibility in responding to new data or emergencies.
- Citizens: May enhance consistency in vaccine recommendations and coverage decisions, affecting access through insurance and public programs like Vaccines for Children.
- International Relations: Limited direct effects, though alignment with scientific standards could influence coordination with bodies like the Canadian National Advisory Committee on Immunization.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal agencies (CDC, FDA, CMS, NIH, HRSA, Indian Health Service).
- Medical and public health organizations (e.g., American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, Infectious Diseases Society of America) listed as liaison representatives.
- Vaccine manufacturers and related groups (e.g., Biotechnology Innovation Organization, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America).
- Healthcare providers, state and local health officials, and the public, particularly families relying on immunization schedules and compensation programs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Emphasizes evidence-based decision-making and transparency, potentially strengthening administrative law standards for agency actions.
- Increases congressional oversight through required notifications, which could affect separation of powers dynamics between the executive branch and Congress.
- Codification may limit future administrative changes to ACIP without new legislation, embedding specific processes into law.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]
Cosponsors (9)
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD], Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-19: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
- 2025-12-03: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-12-03: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Family Vaccine Protection Act — issued 2025-12-03 — PDF (22 pages)