SECTION 1. Short title.

SEC. 2. Grants to increase the rate of immunizations.

“(n) Grants To increase the rate of immunizations.—

“(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall make grants to covered health departments to increase the rate of recommended immunizations during the COVID–19 public health emergency.

“(2) USE OF FUNDS.—A covered health department receiving a grant under this section may use funds received through the grant for the following:

“(A) Providing funds to programs that increase the rate of recommended immunizations during the COVID–19 public health emergency, including supporting evidence-based outreach and educational activities in communities served by the covered health department involved.

“(B) Supporting efforts by health care providers to communicate the importance of maintaining immunization schedules and visiting a primary care provider during the COVID–19 public health emergency.

“(C) Increasing awareness with respect to health insurance options and programs that reduce the cost of vaccines, including the Vaccines for Children program (or similar program) carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“(D) Evaluating efforts to increase the rate of recommended immunizations in communities described in subparagraph (A) during the COVID–19 public health emergency.

“(E) Developing and distributing culturally and linguistically appropriate messages about the importance of recommended immunizations during the COVID–19 public health emergency, including vaccines licensed under section 351 of this Act to prevent, mitigate, or treat the virus that causes COVID–19.

“(F) Combating misinformation and disinformation with respect to the safety of vaccines, including a vaccine that will be licensed under section 351 of this Act to prevent, mitigate, or treat the virus that causes COVID–19.

“(3) PARTNERSHIPS.—A covered health department that receives a grant under this section may develop a partnership with entities and individuals in the communities served by the State, local, or Tribal government involved to carry out the activities under paragraph (3), including—

“(A) a health care provider, which may include a pediatrician, pediatric nurse practitioner, family physician, internal medicine physician, or primary care provider;

“(B) a school nurse;

“(C) an organization that primarily provides health care or social services for—

“(i) groups that have a low rate of immunizations;

“(ii) individuals with a chronic health condition or underlying medical condition associated with increased risk for severe illness from COVID–19; or

“(iii) individuals with a limited proficiency in the English language;

“(D) a faith-based organization;

“(E) a long-term care facility, senior center, or other facility in which recommended immunizations for older adults may be provided or promoted by the staff of such facility or center;

“(F) a vaccine coalition;

“(G) a pediatric hospital;

“(H) a pharmacy;

“(I) a kindergarten, elementary, or secondary school; or

“(J) an institution of higher education.

“(4) EVALUATION.—Not later than 18 months after the date on which a covered health department receives a grant under this subsection, the covered health department shall submit to the Secretary an evaluation on the effectiveness of the activities carried out using such funds to increase the rate of recommended immunizations.

“(5) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that includes—

“(A) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the activities under paragraph (3) to increase the rate of recommended immunizations, based on the evaluations submitted pursuant to paragraph (6); and

“(B) recommendations to increase the rate of recommended immunizations, including recommendations with respect to any public health emergency that occurs in the future.

“(6) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection:

“(A) COVERED HEALTH DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘covered health department’ means the public health department of a State, local, or Tribal government.

“(B) COVID–19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.—The term ‘COVID–19 public health emergency’ means the public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of this Act on January 31, 2020, with respect to COVID–19.

“(C) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The term ‘institution of higher education’ has the meaning given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).

“(D) RECOMMENDED IMMUNIZATIONS.—The term ‘recommended immunizations’ means immunizations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“(7) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—

“(A) IN GENERAL.—To carry out this subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated, $560,000,000 to remain available until expended.

“(B) APPORTIONMENT.—In awarding grant funds under this subsection, the Secretary shall apportion the amounts appropriated to carry out this subsection as follows:

“(i) Not less than 50 percent of such funds to State and Tribal public health departments.

“(ii) Not less than 50 percent of such funds to local health departments.

“(iii) Based on the population of the State, local, or Tribal government involved.”.

SEC. 3. COVID–19 vaccine guidance.