Maternal Vaccination Act would address the maternal mortality crisis by boosting maternal vaccination rates

Washington D.C. - U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) introduced the Maternal Vaccination Act to protect the health of mothers and babies by increasing maternal and childhood vaccination rates. The legislation was included as a part of the larger "Momnibus," a package of 14 bills that comprehensively address every driver of maternal mortality, morbidity, and disparities in the United States. Rep. Sewell is a proud member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus.

"In this nation of so much wealth and prosperity, it is unconscionable that our mothers continue to die during pregnancy and childbirth at the highest rate in the developed world," said Rep. Sewell. "I'm proud to be a part of the effort in Congress to address this crisis as the lead sponsor of the Maternal Vaccination Act. Our bill will save lives by protecting our most vulnerable moms and babies from deadly, preventable diseases."

The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any high-income country, with roughly 17.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2024, and Alabama consistently ranks among the deadliest states for pregnant women. The problem disproportionately affects Black women, who die from pregnancy-related causes at a rate three times higher than white women. Fortunately, more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, and comprehensive federal action can address the drivers of this crisis and save lives.

Maternal vaccination plays a critical role in preventing pregnancy-related death given that 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.

The Maternal Vaccination Act will provide funding for a public and provider awareness campaign to promote maternal and child vaccinations, including initiatives to:

• Increase awareness about the safety, importance, and effectiveness of vaccines for pregnant and postpartum people and their children;
• Provide targeted, evidence-based, culturally and linguistically appropriate resources about vaccines to pregnant and postpartum people, particularly in communities with historically low vaccination rates; and
• Provide evidence-based information and resources on the safety and importance of maternal and child vaccinations to public health departments, maternal health care providers, and perinatal health workers.

Bill text is available here.

Read more about the Momnibus here.

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