PRINTER'S NO. 535
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
451
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY L. WILLIAMS, COLLETT, MUTH, CAPPELLETTI, FONTANA,
KANE AND SANTARSIERO, APRIL 9, 2021
REFERRED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, APRIL 9, 2021
AN ACT
Providing for COVID-19 Vaccine Registry and for regulations by
Department of Health.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the COVID-19
Vaccine Registry Act.
Section 2. Declaration of policy.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) The best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and
end the pandemic is to vaccinate as many residents of this
Commonwealth as quickly as possible.
(2) It is the intent of the General Assembly to support
the vaccination process by creating a Statewide vaccination
registry which:
(i) Permits residents of this Commonwealth to
register to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
(ii) Permits a family to register at the same time
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and notes any risk conditions, classification memberships
and willingness to travel.
(iii) Allows COVID-19 vaccine providers access to
the registry to prioritize outreach to eligible
participants as vaccines become available.
(iv) Limits the frustration residents of this
Commonwealth are feeling when trying to access vaccine
appointments.
Section 3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"COVID-19." The novel coronavirus as identified in the
proclamation of disaster emergency issued by the Governor on
March 6, 2020, published at 50 Pa.B. 1644 (March 21, 2020), and
any renewal of the state of disaster emergency.
"Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
"Provider." A person or entity authorized to distribute a
COVID-19 vaccine to a registrant.
"Registrant." An individual or an authorized representative
of the individual registering for access to a COVID-19 vaccine
in the registry.
"Registry." The COVID-19 Vaccine Registry established under
section 4.
Section 4. COVID-19 vaccine registry.
(a) Establishment.--The department shall establish and
maintain a COVID-19 vaccine registry of registrants willing to
receive a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as a vaccine becomes
available that is accessible to individuals through a telephone
hotline and a publicly accessible Internet website. The registry
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shall:
(1) Permit the self-registration of individuals willing
to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
(2) Allow registration of multiple family members by a
single registrant.
(3) Permit a registrant to note complicating medical
conditions and risk categories and submit documentation of
those conditions or categories.
(4) Allow a registrant to note how far the registrant is
willing to travel to access a COVID-19 vaccine.
(5) Permit a provider to sort by zip code, medical
condition, travel parameters, risk category and any other
category as determined by the department.
(6) Contain a feature that regularly contacts
registrants and asks registrants to note whether or not they
have received a COVID-19 vaccine.
(7) Include a method to permit a registrant to be
removed from the registry by the registrant upon receiving a
vaccination.
(8) Require providers to report back to the registry
which registrants have received a COVID-19 vaccine to permit
the removal of those participants from the registry.
(9) Provide registrants a registrant identification
number that will allow them to check their vaccination
status, including what category they fall within and what
category is currently being vaccinated.
(10) Require providers to use the registry as their
primary registration tool.
(b) Availability of registry.--The department shall create a
process whereby a provider may request access to the registry.
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Except as otherwise provided, the department shall require that
any provider accessing the registry may only use the data
obtained for the purpose of outreach to provide a COVID-19
vaccine. Nothing in this act shall prevent a provider from
maintaining any registrant data as necessary and consented by
the registrant to procure a COVID-19 vaccine or follow-up care
related to a COVID-19 vaccine.
(c) Use of registry.--A provider may access the registry for
the following purposes:
(1) To generate a list of registrants to contact as
COVID-19 vaccines become available.
(2) To access data to prioritize risk categories.
(3) To fill an empty COVID-19 appointment.
(d) Report of vaccine receipt.--A provider who has used data
from the registry shall report to the registry which registrants
have received the vaccine.
(e) Limitations on vaccine distribution.--A provider that
seeks to provide vaccines shall register under subsection (f).
The Commonwealth shall not make a vaccine distribution to a
provider until the provider provides confirmation that the
provider has registered under subsection (f).
(f) Provider registration.--In order to register as a
provider under this act, a provider shall:
(1) Affirm in a form and manner determined by the
department that the provider shall provide priority access to
vaccine appointments to registrants who have been registered
and if the provider fills vaccine appointments with
individuals outside of the registry, the provider shall give
notice to the department regarding the number of appointments
filled and the reason for doing so.
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(2) Prior to opening an appointment for vaccination,
access the registry for an updated list of registrants who
are qualified and willing to access the vaccine. Providers
shall give registrants priority when filling appointments for
a vaccination.
(3) Provide the following information:
(i) Projected availability of COVID-19 vaccination
appointments.
(ii) The process on how to register for appointments
or contact the registrant directly to schedule the
appointment.
(g) Reporting requirements.--Use of the registry shall not
supersede any requirements for reporting mandated by the
department.
Section 5. Temporary regulations.
(a) Promulgation.--The department shall promulgate temporary
regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this act
which shall not be subject to:
(1) Sections 201, 202, 203, 204 and 205 of the act of
July 31, 1968 (P.L.769, No.240), referred to as the
Commonwealth Documents Law.
(2) Sections 204(b) and 301(10) of the act of October
15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164), known as the Commonwealth
Attorneys Act.
(3) The act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as
the Regulatory Review Act.
(b) Expiration.--The department's authority to adopt
temporary regulations under subsection (a) shall expire two
years after the effective date of this section. Regulations
adopted after this period shall be promulgated as provided by
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law.
(c) Publication.--The department shall publish initial
temporary regulations no later than 30 days after the effective
date of this section.
Section 6. Effective date.
This act shall take effect immediately.
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