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Congressman Mike Garcia (1)

Garcia Introduces Bill Aimed At Administering More COVID-19 Vaccines

Congressman Mike Garcia, R-Santa Clarita, joined fellow Republican Congressman Ted Budd in introducing the “Vaccinate More Americans Act” on Thursday, a bill that aims to lift regulations to allow more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to be administered.

The bill introduced by the Republican pair would allow vaccine providers to administer leftover COVID-19 vaccines to individuals eligible to receive the vaccine in the following phased allocation group, instead of letting the doses “go to waste.”

In a statement issued Thursday, Garcia’s office said that the bill was prompted by reports nationwide that COVID-19 vaccines were being allowed to expire because of “unclear state and local rules and regulations.”

“I am concerned by the reports I have seen that COVID-19 vaccines are not being distributed due to state and local government red tape,” Garcia said in Thursday’s statement. “These burdensome rules and regulations are further slowing our ability to swiftly and safely open our country back up. I’m proud to work with Rep. Budd to introduce this sensible policy that would ensure COVID-19 vaccines go to Americans, not sit in freezers.” 

Earlier this week, the Representatives sent a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Robert Redfield calling on the CDC to issue guidance to states like California and New York where burdensome state and local vaccine regulations are resulting in wasted COVID-19 vaccines. 

See Related: Garcia Sends Letter Requesting CDC Vaccine Guidelines

“It’s outrageous that states are wasting COVID-19 vaccines at a time when so many people need them,” Budd said in Thursday’s statement. “These overly-strict regulations should not stand in the way of vaccinating as many Americans as possible, as quickly as possible. Rep. Garcia and I have a common-sense solution that cuts red tape and makes vaccine waste is a thing of the past.” 

The “Vaccinate More Americans Act’ would allow vaccine providers to administer leftover vaccines to individuals eligible to receive the vaccine “under circumstances where it is reasonably necessary to prevent the expiration of any dose of vaccine for COVID-19 purchased from the federal government.”

The bill would also allow vaccine providers to “disregard any existing state or local law to the contrary that prohibits them from administering leftover vaccines to individuals not in the current phased allocation group.”

The provisions in the bill would then sunset at the end of the public health emergency.


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Garcia Introduces Bill Aimed At Administering More COVID-19 Vaccines

5 comments

  1. Thank you !! Waiting on my 88 yr old family member with medical issues to get the vaccine.. while our former governor Arnold got his, VERY MADDENING!

  2. Following nearly a year into this pandemic where the previous administration first denied its existence and then obfuscated truthful information and did next to nothing to help,our new president on day one had a 198 page plan ready to roll out. Mikey, this would be a good time for you to shut up and sit down, or in words you understand, “stand down and stand by.” You may learn something by observing competent and caring legislators in action serving the people’s interest.

    btw- This bill is cosponsored by another of those GOP congressmen who thought to disenfranchise voters. It is said, you are known by the company you keep. again you have shamed us.

  3. I haven’t read all the legislation yet but it seems like Big Pharma is going to love this bill.

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About Michael Brown

Michael Brown has lived in Santa Clarita his whole life. Graduating from Saugus High School in 2016, he continued to stay local by attending The Master’s University, where he achieved a Bachelor's Degree in Communication. Michael joined KHTS in January of 2018 as a news intern, and has since gone on to become the News Director for the KHTS Newsroom. Since joining KHTS, Michael has covered many breaking news stories (both on scene and on air), interviewed dozens of prominent state and federal political figures, and interacted with hundreds of residents from Santa Clarita. When he is not working, Michael enjoys spending time with his family, as well as reading any comic book he can get his hands on.