HB 2378

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 3181  PRINTER'S NO.    3632
                THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
                    HOUSE BILL
                    No. 2378
                                          Session of
                                            2026
INTRODUCED BY MADDEN, PARKER, WAXMAN, SAMUELSON, GUENST, HILL-
   EVANS, SANCHEZ, FREEMAN, VENKAT, HANBIDGE AND FLEMING,
   APRIL 10, 2026
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
   AS AMENDED, JUNE 17, 2026
                               AN ACT
1 Amending the act of July 15, 2004 (P.L.731, No.85), entitled "An
2    act providing for immunization against the influenza virus
3    and pneumococcal disease for elderly persons," further
4    providing for definitions, FOR VACCINATION OFFERED TO  <--
5    ELIGIBLE PERSONS AND FOR RESPONSIBILITIES OF DEPARTMENT; and
6    making editorial changes.
7    The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9    Section 1.    The title and section 1 of the act of July 15,
10 2004 (P.L.731, No.85), known as the Elderly Immunization Act,
11 are amended to read:
12AN ACT
13 Providing for immunization against the influenza virus and
14    pneumococcal disease for elderly and high risk persons.
15 Section 1.   Short title.
16    This act shall be known and may be cited as the Elderly and
17 High Risk Immunization Act.
18    Section 2.    The definition of "eligible person" in section 2
19 of the act is amended to read:
1 Section 2.     Definitions.
2    The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
3 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
4 context clearly indicates otherwise:
5    * * *
6    "Eligible person."     A person:
7(1)   [65] 50 years of age or older[.] for pneumococcal     <--
8    vaccination.
9(2)   50 years of age or older for influenza vaccination.
10(3)   75 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER FOR RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL    <--
11    VIRUS.
12    * * *
13    SECTION 3.     SECTIONS 3 AND 4 OF THE ACT ARE AMENDED TO READ:   <--
14 SECTION 3.     VACCINATION OFFERED TO ELIGIBLE PERSONS.
15    (A)   GENERAL RULE.--WHEN AN ELIGIBLE PERSON IS ADMITTED TO A
16 HOSPITAL FOR A PERIOD OF MORE THAN 24 HOURS FOR A CONDITION
17 UNRELATED TO THE INFLUENZA VIRUS, RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS OR
18 PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE, HE OR SHE SHALL BE INFORMED THAT A
19 VACCINATION FOR THE INFLUENZA VIRUS, RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS
20 AND PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE IS AVAILABLE AND PROVIDED THE
21 OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE VACCINATION AGAINST THE INFLUENZA VIRUS,
22 RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS AND PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE PRIOR TO
23 DISCHARGE FROM THE HOSPITAL. IMMUNIZATION SHALL BE CONDUCTED IN
24 ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON
25 IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES OF THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND
26 PREVENTION.
27    (B)   OTHER FACILITIES TO OFFER VACCINATION.--VACCINATION FOR
28 THE INFLUENZA VIRUS, RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS AND
29 PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE SHALL ALSO BE OFFERED TO AN ELIGIBLE PERSON
30 AT FACILITIES PROVIDING ONGOING MEDICAL CARE TO THE EXTENT
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1 POSSIBLE AS DETERMINED BY THE FACILITY. IF THE FACILITY
2 DETERMINES IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE THE VACCINE,
3 INFORMATION SHALL BE PROVIDED TO THE PATIENT ON OTHER OPTIONS
4 FOR OBTAINING THE VACCINE.
5    (C)   TIME FRAME FOR AVAILABILITY OF INFLUENZA, RESPIRATORY
6 SYNCYTIAL VIRUS AND PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE.--
7(1)   THE INFLUENZA VACCINE SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR
8    ELIGIBLE PERSONS DURING THE MONTHS OF OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER.
9    VACCINATION EFFORTS MAY CONTINUE INTO DECEMBER AND LATER
10    BASED ON AVAILABILITY OF THE VACCINE.
11(2)   THE PNEUMOCOCCAL [VACCINE] AND RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL
12    VIRUS VACCINES SHALL BE AVAILABLE FOR ELIGIBLE PERSONS.
13    (D)   PROTOCOLS.--VACCINES MAY BE ADMINISTERED UNDER
14 INSTITUTION-APPROVED OR PHYSICIAN-APPROVED PROTOCOLS AFTER AN
15 ASSESSMENT HAS BEEN MADE FOR CONTRAINDICATIONS.
16    (E)   RESPONSIBILITY OF PERSON ADMINISTERING VACCINE.--IT
17 SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PERSON ADMINISTERING THE
18 VACCINE TO INQUIRE AS TO WHETHER THE ELIGIBLE PERSON HAS ALREADY
19 RECEIVED A VACCINATION AGAINST THE INFLUENZA VIRUS, RESPIRATORY
20 SYNCYTIAL VIRUS OR PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE.
21    (F)   DOCUMENTATION OF VACCINE.--RECEIPT OF THE VACCINATION
22 SHALL BE DOCUMENTED ON THE PATIENT'S CHART AND MADE A PART OF
23 THE PATIENT'S PERMANENT RECORD AT THE HOSPITAL OR OTHER
24 FACILITY.
25 SECTION 4.     RESPONSIBILITIES OF DEPARTMENT.
26    (A)   PROMULGATION OF REGULATIONS.--THE DEPARTMENT MAY
27 PROMULGATE REGULATIONS RELATING TO THIS ACT, TAKING INTO
28 CONSIDERATION THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON
29 IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES OF THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND
30 PREVENTION.
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1    (B)   EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS.--THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MAKE
2 AVAILABLE EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS TO ALL
3 HOSPITALS AND OTHER FACILITIES PROVIDING ONGOING MEDICAL CARE
4 CONCERNING VACCINATION AGAINST THE INFLUENZA VIRUS, RESPIRATORY
5 SYNCYTIAL VIRUS AND PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE.
6    Section 3 4.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.  <--
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