# 119-hr-5448: Protecting Free Vaccines Act

119-hr-5448, Protecting Free Vaccines Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6] (D-NJ); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5448
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-5448
- Congress: 119
- Title: Protecting Free Vaccines Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-09-18
- Sponsor: Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6] (D-NJ)
- Cosponsors: 83
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## Summary

**Requires free coverage for ACIP-recommended vaccines across private plans and federal programs.** This bill would require immunizations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices as of October 25, 2024, and FDA-approved updates to be covered without cost-sharing through plan years ending before January 1, 2030. - Families and children: Medicaid and CHIP would cover vaccines and their administration through December 31, 2029. States could not remove pediatric vaccines that were on the recommended list on October 25, 2024. - Workers and people with private insurance: Group health plans and individual market coverage would have to cover ACIP-recommended vaccines with no copays or deductibles during the enactment window. The cost-sharing ban would not apply if a vaccine is given within the minimum interval set by law. - Seniors and Medicare enrollees: Medicare would preserve the most recent ACIP recommendation in effect before any later revocation so beneficiaries keep access during the same coverage window. States using benchmark or benchmark-like plans must include adult ACIP-recommended vaccines without cost-sharing.

## Cosponsors (83)

- Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1] (D-MA), 2025-09-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3] (D-VA), 2025-09-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1] (D-OH), 2025-09-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15] (D-CA), 2025-09-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7] (D-CA), 2025-09-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4] (D-MA), 2025-09-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14] (D-FL), 2025-09-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2] (D-LA), 2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12] (D-NY), 2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL), 2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8] (D-WA), 2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3] (D-OH), 2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27] (D-CA), 2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] (D-IL), 2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3] (D-MD), 2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1] (D-CT), 2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] (D-PA), 2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25] (D-FL), 2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2] (D-RI), 2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4] (D-CA), 2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] (D-NY), 2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7] (D-AL), 2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] (D-NY), 2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6] (D-MI), 2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4] (D-VA), 2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4] (D-MD), 2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8] (D-NJ), 2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7] (D-IL), 2025-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9] (D-FL), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (D-TN), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13] (D-IL), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15] (D-NY), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] (D-CA), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] (D-WA), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1] (D-RI), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49] (D-CA), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (D-OR), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9] (D-MA), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22] (D-FL), 2025-10-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14] (D-NY), 2025-10-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3] (D-MA), 2025-10-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50] (D-CA), 2025-10-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17] (D-PA), 2025-10-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30] (D-CA), 2025-10-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3] (D-OR), 2025-10-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7] (D-CO), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] (D-MD), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] (D-NY), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37] (D-CA), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8] (D-CA), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large] (D-VT), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10] (D-NY), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] (D-MA), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (D-CO), 2025-10-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6] (D-WA), 2025-10-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Conaway, Herbert C. [D-NJ-3] (D-NJ), 2025-10-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1] (D-IL), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2] (D-IL), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA), 2025-10-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10] (D-FL), 2025-10-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] (D-IL), 2025-10-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16] (D-NY), 2025-11-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1] (D-NJ), 2025-11-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7] (D-TX), 2025-11-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1] (D-IN), 2025-11-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25] (D-NY), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31] (D-CA), 2025-11-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large] (D-DE), 2025-12-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3] (D-KS), 2026-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4] (D-IL), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5] (D-OR), 2026-05-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] (D-ME), 2026-05-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11] (D-VA), 2026-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3] (D-AZ), 2026-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13] (D-MI), 2026-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2] (D-NC), 2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2026-07-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6] (D-MD), 2026-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47] (D-CA), 2026-09-03T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Free vaccines in Medicaid and CHIP: benefit, medium. If enacted, Medicaid would cover ACIP‑recommended vaccines from October 25, 2024 and their administration from enactment through December 31, 2029. This would include vaccines for pregnant individuals and updated versions approved by FDA supplement. States using benchmark Medicaid plans would need…
- Medicare keeps vaccine coverage after changes: benefit, low. If enacted, Medicare drug coverage would keep using the last ACIP vaccine advice for coverage if that advice is later revoked on or after October 25, 2024. This would apply for plan years from enactment through before January 1, 2030. Updated vaccine versions approved by an FDA supplement would be…
- No-cost vaccines in private plans: benefit, low. If enacted, group and individual health plans would need to cover ACIP‑recommended vaccines from October 25, 2024 without cost sharing. This would also apply to updated versions of those vaccines if FDA approves a supplement to the vaccine’s license. The rule would run for plan years starting on or…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-15: Equality Act
- 119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025
- 119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act
- 119-hr-1810: Safe Schools Improvement Act
- 119-hr-999: Right to Contraception Act
- 119-hr-18: Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-5448 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5448)

## Related
- [119-hr-15: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-15)
- [119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1589)
- [119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-17)
- [119-hr-1810: Safe Schools Improvement Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1810)
- [119-hr-999: Right to Contraception Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-999)
- [119-hr-18: Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-18)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5448 (as of 2026-09-21).