# Understanding the Maternal Vaccination Act

This bill directs the federal government to launch a nationwide public awareness campaign about vaccinations for pregnant women and new mothers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would run this campaign to educate people about why getting vaccinated during pregnancy and after giving birth is important for both the mother's health and the baby's health. The campaign would specifically focus on communities where vaccination rates have historically been lower, particularly among racial and ethnic minority groups, recognizing that these communities often face barriers to health information and care.

The campaign would work with trusted local organizations, doctors, midwives, community health workers, and nonprofits to develop messages that respect different cultural backgrounds and beliefs. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, the materials would be tailored to speak meaningfully to different communities, and the government would actually ask pregnant and postpartum women in these communities what information would be most helpful to them. The campaign would also partner with local health centers and maternity care providers who already have relationships with pregnant women, making it more likely that accurate vaccination information reaches people who need it.

To measure whether the campaign actually works, the bill requires the CDC to track how many more pregnant women get vaccinated and report back to Congress by the end of 2025. The bill authorizes $2 million per year for five years to fund this effort. Essentially, this is a focused public health initiative aimed at improving vaccination rates among pregnant women by providing culturally appropriate information through trusted community channels, with particular attention to groups that have historically had lower vaccination rates.

Maternal Vaccination Act

Sewell, Terri A.

Maternal Vaccination Act This bill establishes a national campaign to raise awareness and increase rates of maternal vaccinations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) must consult with various stakeholders to carry out this campaign. In addition, the CDC must focus on increasing vaccination rates among communities with historically high rates of unvaccinated individuals. The CDC must also make publicly available any materials and resources developed for the campaign.