U.S. Senator Tina Smith, U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood Introduce Bill to Bolster Vaccination Efforts and Keep Families Healthy

Press Release

U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL 14) recently introduced their Community Immunity During COVID-19 Act, which would support local efforts to boost routine vaccinations, and ensure that immunization providers and local organizations can lead community-specific initiatives to reach all community members, particularly underserved populations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we can't afford to fall behind on routine vaccinations and risk losing progress in preventing once-common diseases, like measles," said Senator Smith. "This is especially important for children, who are recommended to get pediatric vaccinations at certain stages in their development. In my home state of Minnesota, up-to-date vaccinations have unfortunately declined to less than 50 percent among most children under 2. I'm introducing the Senate companion to Rep. Underwood's legislation to boost vaccination rates during the pandemic, and will work to move it forward."

"Illinois communities need more resources to deliver COVID-19 vaccines as quickly as possible to the people who need them most," said Rep. Underwood. "I'm leading the Community Immunity During COVID-19 Act to deliver urgently needed resources to public health departments and their local partners to meet the demand for COVID-19 vaccinations and make sure children and adults don't fall behind on other life-saving vaccines during this pandemic. By investing in community-specific initiatives to increase immunization rates, we can prevent more avoidable disease and save lives."

The Community Immunity During COVID-19 Act--also supported by Reps. Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA 8), Kathy Castor (D-FL 14) and Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH 2)--would:

Provide $560 million to build on state, local, and Tribal public health infrastructure to promote routine vaccinations, including through:
Partnerships with health care providers, schools, pharmacies, vaccine coalitions, and community-based organizations;
Culturally and linguistically appropriate information about vaccines;
Outreach to promote health insurance options and immunization programs; and
Evaluation of efforts in order to improve initiatives to promote vaccinations.
Distribute $2.5 million in funding to develop guidance on a COVID-19 vaccine.
This legislation is supported by: Children's Minnesota, Vaccinate Your Family, Blue Shield of California, American Nurses Association, Social Security Works, First Focus Campaign for Children, American Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC), Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, Physician Assistant Education Association, HealthConnect One, March of Dimes, Northwestern Medicine, Japanese American Citizens League, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, American Public Health Association, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National League for Nursing, Federation of American Hospitals, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, America's Essential Hospitals, American Academy of Pediatrics, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Children's Health Fund, Long Term Care Community Coalition, and the Illinois Health and Hospital Association.

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