Summary#
This bill sets goals, programs, and funding to improve prevention, detection, and response to seasonal and pandemic influenza. It directs federal health agencies (HHS, NIH, CDC, BARDA, and FDA) to publish plans and run programs to: have capacity to deliver first doses of finished pandemic influenza vaccine within 12 weeks (goal within 3 years); develop a universal influenza vaccine (goal within 10 years); strengthen and diversify the domestic vaccine, therapeutics, and diagnostics supply chains; expand and manage stockpiles and rapid manufacturing and fill-finish capacity; support research on new vaccines, antivirals, monoclonal antibodies, diagnostics, and potency assays; and run public communication and outreach partnerships to increase vaccine confidence. The bill also creates demonstration projects (including a test-to-treat influenza project and a communications public-private partnership), requires regular reports to Congress, and changes budget and appropriations reporting for ‘‘health defense operations.''
What it means for you#
- The bill directs creation of plans, programs, and public-private work to speed vaccine, test, and treatment development and delivery for influenza.
- It supports research aimed at a universal flu vaccine and better diagnostics and treatments.
- It requires outreach and communication efforts focused on groups named in the bill (older adults, pregnant people, parents, Tribal communities, racial and ethnic minorities, rural communities, and people with chronic conditions).
- It funds demonstration projects to test test-to-treat models and targeted communications campaigns.
- It directs the federal government to monitor antiviral supplies and to plan for rapid distribution to areas of need in shortages.
- The bill enables grants to states to expand pharmacy administration of flu vaccines, tests, and therapeutics.
Expenses#
- The bill would authorize $335,000,000 for each fiscal year 2027 through 2031 to support pandemic influenza activities under BARDA and related HHS work.
- It authorizes annual appropriations beginning in FY2027 for several programs (amounts listed in the bill):
- $231,358,000 each year for CDC influenza planning and response programs;
- $1,000,000,000 each year for the Strategic National Stockpile;
- An amount listed in the bill for the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response industrial base center appears as "$10,00,0000" and is unclear; No publicly available information.
- $307,000,000 each year for the Hospital Preparedness Program;
- $270,000,000 each year for NIH universal flu vaccine research;
- $681,933,000 each year for CDC immunization program under section 317;
- $735,000,000 each year for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program;
- $185,000,000 each year for CDC Public Health Data Modernization Initiative;
- $43,000,000 each year for CDC Advanced Molecular Detection Program.
- The bill also creates a reporting and designation approach for ‘‘health defense operations’’ appropriations and establishes a process for certain agency budget estimates to go directly to the President starting FY2028.
Proponents' View#
Supporters argue the United States needs better preparation for seasonal and pandemic influenza. The bill's findings state that influenza causes many deaths and illnesses each year, that higher seasonal vaccination rates improve pandemic readiness, that the National Influenza Vaccine Modernization Strategy should be fully implemented, that critical pharmaceutical supply chains are too reliant on China, and that vaccine hesitancy threatens public health and national security. The bill aims to speed vaccine and diagnostic development, diversify domestic supply chains, maintain and test stockpiles, and fund outreach to build vaccine confidence.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.