S. 1603Senate118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Maternal Vaccinations Act

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Updated January 20, 2026 at 7:32 AM UTC

The Maternal Vaccinations Act amends the Public Health Service Act to broaden a federal vaccination awareness campaign so it specifically includes pregnant and postpartum people. It also expands the target groups to cover prenatal, obstetric, and pediatric care and adds a focus on racial and ethnic minority groups. The bill raises the annual funding for the campaign to $17 million for fiscal years 2024‑2028. These changes aim to raise vaccination rates among pregnant and postpartum individuals and their children.

Key Provisions

Adds “pregnant and postpartum individuals” to the campaign’s focus language in the Public Health Service Act
Expands the listed care areas to include obstetric services alongside prenatal and pediatric
Increases the campaign’s annual funding to $17 million for FY2024‑2028 (up from $15 million for FY2021‑2025)
Adds a new activity to specifically increase vaccination rates among pregnant and postpartum individuals, including those from racial and ethnic minority groups, and their children

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

May 15, 2023

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 15, 2023

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

May 15, 2023

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued May 15, 2023

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1603

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 15, 2023

Mr. Kaine introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

A BILL

To amend the Public Health Service Act to increase vaccination rates of pregnant and postpartum individuals, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Maternal Vaccinations Act.

Maternal vaccination awareness and equity campaign

(a)

Campaign

Section 313 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 245) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a), by inserting and among pregnant and postpartum individuals, after low rates of vaccination,;

(2)

in subsection (c)(3), by striking prenatal and pediatric and inserting prenatal, obstetric, and pediatric;

(3)

in subsection (d)(4)(B), by inserting pregnant and postpartum individuals and after including; and

(4)

in subsection (g), by striking $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025 and inserting $17,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.

(b)

Additional activities

Section 317(k)(1)(E) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b(k)(1)(E)) is amended—

(1)

in clause (v), by striking and at the end; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(vii)

increase vaccination rates of pregnant and postpartum individuals, including individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups, and their children; and