Democrats propose bill to protect vaccine access in Pennsylvania

Legislation has been introduced by Democrats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives that aims to protect access to recommended immunizations for state residents.

State Representatives Arvind Venkat, Bridget Kosierowski and Tarik Khan, all health professionals, introduced House Bill 1828 last week. The bill would require private insurance companies to cover vaccines recommended by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The department would be authorized to consult with medical societies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America, for their expertise.

Venkat, a Democrat representing Allegheny County, said the legislation responds to changes at the federal level. He cited the recent firing of all members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, known as ACIP, and their replacement with individuals he described as "anti-vaccine activists." He also mentioned the departure of the entire CDC leadership.

“This is a major issue we are already seeing the consequences of with the recent measles outbreak across the country and the non-evidence-based restrictions on access to COVID immunizations,” Venkat said in a news release.

ACIP provides recommendations on vaccine coverage and use, which are often followed by insurers and can be used to set school immunization requirements.

"As a physician, I know how powerful vaccines at all stages of life can be for preventing or mitigating disease," Venkat said. “If ACIP stops recommending certain FDA-approved vaccines, insurers will no longer have to cover them, and critical immunizations that protect children and vulnerable Pennsylvanians from deadly diseases could disappear."

The bill text specifies that the Pennsylvania Department of Health can add or remove an immunization from the coverage requirement based on medical evidence and public health impact. The bill would also impose penalties for noncompliance by insurers, including fines of up to $10,000 for each willful violation.

H.B. 1828 has 25 co-sponsors and has been referred to the House Insurance Committee for consideration. The legislation would not require new immunizations for the public. Instead, it aims to maintain the current standards for insurance coverage of vaccines in Pennsylvania.

Federal law under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act already requires healthcare providers to give patients a Vaccine Information Statement, or VIS, before administering certain vaccines. These documents, produced by the CDC, inform recipients about the risks and benefits of each vaccine.