To clarify the duties and activities of the Vaccine Healthcare Centers Network.

1. Adds SEC. __. VACCINE HEALTHCARE CENTERS NETWORK on page 147, line 21

   Adds a sectionPrinted page

   Inserted: SEC. __. VACCINE HEALTHCARE CENTERS NETWORK.

   Inserted: Section 1110 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

   Inserted: "(c) Vaccine Healthcare Centers Network.--(1) The Secretary shall carry out this section through the Vaccine Healthcare Centers Network as established by the Secretary in collaboration with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

   Inserted: "(2) In addition to conducting the activities described in subsection (b), it shall be the purpose of the Vaccine Healthcare Centers Network to improve--

   Inserted: "(A) the safety and quality of vaccine delivery and protection of members of the armed forces;

   Inserted: "(B) the submission of data to the Vaccine-related Adverse Events Reporting System to include comprehensive content and follow-up data;

   Inserted: "(C) the quality, access, and delivery of clinical management services to members of the armed services who experience vaccine adverse events;

   Inserted: "(D) the satisfaction of members of the armed services with vaccine-related health-care services;

   Inserted: "(E) the knowledge and understanding by members of the armed services and vaccine-providers of immunization benefits and risks;

   Inserted: "(F) networking between the Department of Defense, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and private advocacy and coalition groups with regard to immunization benefits and risks; and

   Inserted: "(G) clinical research on the safety and efficacy of vaccines.

   Inserted: "(3) To achieve the purposes described in paragraph (2), the Vaccine Healthcare Centers Network shall carry out the following:

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   Inserted: "(A)(i) Establish a network of centers of excellence in clinical immunization safety assessment that provides for outreach, education, and confidential consultative and direct patient care services for vaccine related adverse events prevention, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up with respect to members of the armed services.

   Inserted: "(ii) Such centers shall provide expert second opinions for such members regarding medical exemptions under this section and for additional care that is not available at the local medical facilities of such members.

   Inserted: "(B) Develop standardized educational outreach activities to support the initial and ongoing (on at least an annual basis) provision of training and education for providers and nursing personnel who are engaged in providing immunization services to the members of the armed services.

   Inserted: "(C) Develop a program for quality improvement in the submission and understanding of data that is provided to the Vaccine-related Adverse Events Reporting System, particularly among providers and members of the armed services. Such program shall ensure that data is collected concerning adverse events associated with vaccines, including smallpox, anthrax, and multiple vaccine exposures.

   Inserted: "(D) Develop and standardize, in collaboration with the medical departments of the military services, a quality improvement program for the Department of Defense relating to immunization services. Such program shall include the design and implementation of data collection tools and processes that validate and enhance the program.

   Inserted: "(E) Develop and support, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment network, a multi-center platform for clinical research on rare but serious vaccine adverse events, both in relation to establishing new case definitions as needed, and in relation to the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and quality-of-life impact of temporally associated adverse events.

   Inserted: "(F) Develop an effective network system, with appropriate internal and external collaborative efforts, to facilitate integration, educational outreach, research, and clinical management of adverse vaccine events.

   Inserted: "(G) Provide education and advocacy for the fair treatment of vaccine recipients to include fair access to vaccine safety programs, medical exemptions, and quality treatment.

   Inserted: "(H) Develop and conduct, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, clinical studies with respect to the safety and efficacy of vaccines, including outcomes studies on the implementation of recommendations contained in the clinical guidelines for vaccine-related adverse events existing on the date of enactment of this subsection.

   Inserted: "(I) Develop, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, implementation recommendations for vaccine exemptions under this section or alternative vaccine strategies for members of the armed services who have had prior, or who are susceptible to, adverse events, including those with genetic risk factors, and the discovery of treatments for adverse events that are most effective.

   Inserted: "(4) There is authorized to be appropriate to carry out this subsection, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, and such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year thereafter.".

   Original wording

   On page 147, after line 21, add the following:

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