Expanding the COVID-19 Vaccination Workforce
Use of PREP Act Authorities to Protect Your Community
Throughout the COVID-19 response, the federal government has remained steadfast in providing support to states and territories as part of the whole-of-America approach to fighting the pandemic. The Biden administration is providing a pathway for all states and territories to increase access to certain COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutic products as well as seasonal influenza vaccines and childhood vaccines recommended by CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). For more details, see the
eighth and ninth amendments to the PREP Act.
As more COVID-19 vaccine becomes available, the Biden Administration wants to provide states and territories with the flexibility needed to expand their vaccination workforce to ensure that every American who wants to be vaccinated can receive their vaccine as soon as possible. States and territories are encouraged to further expand the categories of persons authorized to administer COVID-19 vaccines in their states or territories, as authorized under the PREP Act, to respond to the local needs and availability of potential vaccinators.
There are now three safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines that are available under an Emergency Use Authorization and hundreds of millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses are being manufactured for distribution throughout the country, with vaccines becoming more broadly available in the coming weeks.
More healthcare personnel are needed to administer these life-saving vaccines. To address this need, the Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services has signed an amendment to the
Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act declaration that expands the pool of qualified people who can become vaccinators. The definition of covered qualified persons authorized to give the vaccine has been expanded to include, among others, current and retired traditional and non-traditional healthcare professionals and students in healthcare programs.
Subject to certain requirements and if eligible, PREP Act coverage provides liability protections under federal and state/territorial law with respect to all claims for loss resulting from the administration or use of a covered countermeasure in this case COVID-19 vaccine.
This is your opportunity to support your community and protect your family, friends, and neighbors. Check your eligibility and
register today.
