H.R. 5671 – To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish seasonal influenza va…

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Updated February 8, 2026 at 7:31 AM UTC

The bill lets the Secretary of Veterans Affairs provide seasonal flu shots to people who aren’t enrolled in the VA’s patient system, adding the flu vaccine to the existing authority for COVID‑19 shots. It updates the SAVE LIVES Act to treat flu vaccines the same way as COVID‑19 vaccines, sets a deadline for providing them, and defines what counts as a seasonal flu vaccine. The changes affect veterans and other eligible individuals who receive VA health services but are not formally enrolled.

Key Provisions

Amends the SAVE LIVES Act to include seasonal influenza vaccines alongside COVID‑19 vaccines in the VA’s authority to furnish vaccines.
Allows the VA Secretary to give flu shots to certain individuals not enrolled in the VA patient enrollment system.
Sets a cut‑off date of April 29, 2022 for furnishing seasonal influenza vaccines under this authority.
Defines a “seasonal influenza vaccine” as any FDA‑approved, commercially available product that the CDC recommends for that flu season.

Legislative Activity

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12 earlier actions

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

November 16, 2021

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 21, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

October 21, 2021

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

November 2, 2021

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

November 4, 2021

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

November 4, 2021

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Health Discharged.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

November 4, 2021

HouseFloor

Mr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

November 15, 2021 • 5:35 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6257)

November 15, 2021 • 5:36 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5671.

November 15, 2021 • 5:36 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6257)

November 15, 2021 • 5:41 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6257)

November 15, 2021 • 5:41 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

November 15, 2021 • 5:41 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

November 16, 2021

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about H.R. 5671 on the floor

1 Republican1 Democrat

Rep. Mark TakanoD-CA-41 · Nov 15, 2021

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5671) to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish seasonal influenza vaccines to certain individuals, and for other…

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5671) to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish seasonal influenza vaccines to certain individuals, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous material on H.R. 5671, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5671, as amended. Earlier this year, the SAVE LIVES Act was passed unanimously by both Chambers and signed into law. It has allowed VA to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to veterans, their caregivers, and spouses.

With flu season in full swing and COVID-19 continuing to burden our health systems, the urgency to provide both flu and COVID vaccines has never been greater. Public health officials are clear. It is completely safe to receive both inoculations, even at the same time.

Mr. Speaker, that is why I introduced this legislation to build on the lifesaving work of the SAVE LIVES Act and allow VA to administer flu vaccines in addition to COVID-19 vaccines to the same population. By providing easy access to both vaccines at the same time, I hope we can begin to reduce the burden on the broader healthcare system this winter.

Mr. Speaker, I sincerely thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost), the ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for working with me on this legislation in committee.

I ask all my colleagues here today to join this bipartisan effort and support this important legislation to increase access to both vaccines.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, and before asking all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 5671, I truly believe that passing the SAVE LIVES Act and passing this legislation today, H.R. 5671 constitutes one of the best moments that I have had as chairman where all four corners of the Congress came together.

Ranking Member Bost, I know walked a very delicate balance to bring his Members together, but I appreciate his persuasive abilities with his side of the aisle.

Mr. Speaker, I want to encourage that we do this more, and I have no doubt that we really did save lives. And I have no doubt today that we are going to save lives because of this effort before us.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Mike BostR-IL-12 · Nov 15, 2021

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5671, as amended. This bill will authorize VA to give flu shots to certain nonveterans this flu…

Bill Text

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Referred in SenateIssued November 16, 2021

IIB

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 5671

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

November 16, 2021

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

AN ACT

To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish seasonal influenza vaccines to certain individuals, and for other purposes.

1.

Authority of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish seasonal influenza vaccines to certain individuals not enrolled in patient enrollment system of Department of Veterans Affairs

Section 2 of the SAVE LIVES Act (Public Law 117–4; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended—

(1)

by striking a vaccine for COVID–19 each place it appears and inserting a vaccine for COVID–19, a seasonal influenza vaccine, or both;

(2)

in subsection (b)—

(A)

in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting and seasonal influenza vaccines after vaccines for COVID–19; and

(B)

in paragraph (2), by inserting , seasonal influenza vaccines, or both after vaccines for COVID–19;

(3)

in subsection (d), by striking Vaccine allocation in the heading and inserting COVID–19 Vaccine allocation;

(4)

by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f);

(5)

by inserting after subsection (d) the following new subsection (e):

(e)

Limitation on furnishing seasonal influenza vaccine

A seasonal influenza vaccine may not be furnished under this section after April 29, 2022.

;

(6)

in subsection (f), as so redesignated—

(A)

by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (7); and

(B)

by inserting after paragraph (5) the following new paragraph:

(6)

Seasonal influenza vaccine

The term seasonal influenza vaccine means any product that is—

(A)

approved by the Food and Drug Administration;

(B)

commercially available; and

(C)

recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the prevention of influenza in a particular season.

; and

(7)

in the section heading by striking vaccine and inserting and influenza vaccines.

Passed the House of Representatives November 15, 2021.

Cheryl L. Johnson,

Clerk.