Family Vaccine Protection Act

Full Title:
Family Vaccine Protection Act

Summary#

This bill would add a new section to the Public Health Service Act to codify the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and set rules for how it operates. It requires ACIP to give advice and make vaccine recommendations based on a "preponderance of the best available, peer-reviewed scientific evidence." The Director must review ACIP recommendations and generally adopt them unless the Director publishes why a recommendation is not supported by that evidence standard. The Director must publish adopted recommendations on the Department of Health and Human Services website and notify senior officials. If the Director or Secretary takes an action that differs from an ACIP recommendation, they must publish the basis and notify two congressional committees within 48 hours.

The bill requires ACIP to consider any newly licensed vaccine or new vaccine indication at its next regularly scheduled meeting and to issue a recommendation within 90 days of a written notice from the vaccine license holder. ACIP must also make recommendations for breakthrough therapies and vaccines intended to address public health emergencies. ACIP’s duties include making recommendations for coverage under Section 2713 and creating and maintaining the list of pediatric vaccines and schedules for the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program.

The bill sets meeting rules (at least three times per year and additional meetings after vaccine licensure), public access to meetings, membership rules (15–19 appointed members recommended by the Comptroller General, plus six non-voting ex officio members), quorum rules, term lengths (4 years for members, 7 years for the chair), subcommittee rules, recordkeeping rules, and a list of named stakeholder organizations that may be liaison participants. It authorizes $2,800,000 per year for fiscal years 2026–2029 to support ACIP activities.

The bill also amends the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to require that any removal or other modification of the Vaccine Injury Table (including additions of injuries or conditions eligible for compensation) "shall be supported by the preponderance of the best available scientific evidence."

What it means for you#

  • Health care providers and state programs: ACIP’s recommendations would be codified with clear procedures for publication and use. The list ACIP makes for pediatric vaccines would be used for purchasing and delivering vaccines under the Vaccines for Children Program.
  • Insurers and employers: ACIP recommendations would be used for coverage decisions under the referenced coverage requirement (section 2713).
  • Vaccine manufacturers: ACIP is required to consider newly licensed vaccines quickly (next regularly scheduled meeting and a recommendation within 90 days after written notice).
  • Public and transparency: The bill requires public posting of adopted recommendations, reasons when recommendations are not adopted, and notifications to Congress within 48 hours in certain cases.

Expenses#

  • The bill authorizes $2,800,000 to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029 to carry out the ACIP section (including operating costs, compensation and travel for members, and staff support).
  • No publicly available information on other expected costs, savings, or budgetary effects beyond the authorized appropriations.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.