Democratic Committee Leaders Introduce Legislation to Protect Free Vaccines for Americans

Democratic Committee Leaders Introduce Legislation to Protect Free Vaccines for Americans

Bill Introduction Follows Alarming Efforts by Secretary Kennedy to Restrict Access to Lifesaving Vaccines

WASHINGTON - Bicameral Democratic Health Committee leaders introduced legislation today that would protect free vaccine coverage for Americans. The Protecting Free Vaccines Act would require private health insurance companies, Medicaid, and Medicare to continue covering recommended vaccines free of cost-sharing for Americans.

The legislation was introduced in the House by Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), and Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA). Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT).

"Despite repeated promises to the contrary during his confirmation process, Secretary Kennedy has consistently used his position to make it harder for Americans to access vaccines," the Democratic Health Committee leaders said. "As a result, people across the country are afraid they won't be able to get a vaccine at all or if they do, they're not sure their insurance is going to cover it. The Protecting Free Vaccines Act will help put a stop to the chaos. It will ensure that people's health insurance continues to cover existing vaccines free of cost."

The Protecting Free Vaccines Act requires health insurance plans to continue to offer comprehensive coverage without cost-sharing for all vaccines approved by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) as of October 2024, the last time ACIP met before Secretary Kennedy fired the entire panel and stacked it with anti-science, anti-vaccine activists.

Secretary Kennedy has waged a sustained campaign to restrict access to vaccines since taking office, including:

• Restricting access to COVID vaccines for the vast majority of Americans;
• Firing the entire ACIP panel and stacking it with anti-vaccine activists;
• Canceling hundreds of millions of dollars in critical mRNA vaccine research;
• Encouraging parents to pursue unproven medical treatments for their children during a national measles outbreak; and
• Promoting debunked theories attempting to scare families by linking vaccines to autism, led by a discredited researcher.

Under the Affordable Care Act, health insurance is required to cover all ACIP-recommended vaccines free of cost for beneficiaries.

A one-pager is available here.

Legislative text is available here.

###

Press Contact

Democratic Press Office, 202-226-0853