Kaine Introduces Bill to Increase Maternal Vaccination Rates

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, introduced the Maternal Vaccinations Act, legislation to increase maternal vaccination rates for common illnesses like influenza, HPV, and pneumonia; address vaccination rate disparities; and better support new mothers' health.

"More than 80 percent of deaths during pregnancy, childbirth, or postpartum are preventable. We can and must do more to address this tragedy and lower maternal mortality rates," said Kaine. "That's why I'm introducing this legislation to boost maternal vaccination rates, address disparities in care, and save lives."

Maternal vaccination supports mothers' health, as pregnancy carries a heightened risk of complications from infections. It also protects newborns, who rely on their mothers' antibodies for the first several months of their lives. Maternal vaccination rates show disparities in access and uptake, especially among communities with historically low rates of vaccination or higher barriers to accessing health care. For example, data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show an overall maternal influenza vaccination rate of 37.7 percent, but a stark racial disparity exists: 37.4 percent of non-Hispanic white mothers received a flu vaccine, compared to 25.6 percent of Black mothers.

Specifically, the Maternal Vaccinations Act would:

• Increase maternal vaccination rates, particularly in communities with historically low rates of vaccination.
• Engage underserved communities to develop and assess maternal vaccination campaigns.
• Provide evidence-based, culturally-informed resources to providers.
• Build partnerships with community-based organizations, health centers, and maternal health providers.

The full bill text is available here.

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