Underwood, Sewell Legislation to Increase Maternal Vaccination Rates Passes the House with Unanimous Bipartisan Support | Representative Lauren Underwood
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Underwood, Sewell Legislation to Increase Maternal Vaccination Rates Passes the House with Unanimous Bipartisan Support

December 2, 2021

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07)'s legislation to provide critical funding to increase maternal vaccination rates and reduce vaccination disparities has passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The Maternal Vaccination Act is part of Underwood's Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act and comes on the heels of the first bill of the ‘Momnibus' being signed into law by President Biden.

"Low vaccination rates put both mothers and babies at risk, so we must work to increase maternal vaccinations during this public health emergency and beyond. I was proud to see the House of Representatives pass Congresswoman Terri Sewell's Maternal Vaccination Act with unanimous bipartisan support—it's a crucial part of my Momnibus package that will protect moms and babies against vaccine-preventable diseases and save lives," said Underwood. "I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this bill and other key priorities from the Momnibus and get them signed into law."

"Today, the House took an important step in our fight to address the nation's urgent maternal health crisis by passing my Maternal Vaccination Act!" said Sewell. "We know that the U.S. suffers from the highest pregnancy-related death rate in the developed world with Black women facing disproportionately high maternal mortality rates."

"By providing funding to increase immunization rates for women and babies from communities with historically low vaccination rates, my Maternal Vaccination Act will help protect our mothers and babies from preventable diseases," continued Sewell. "Passage of this bill brings us one step closer to ensuring that women of every background enjoy equal access to maternal health care."

Underwood's Momnibus legislation includes 12 bills that will grow and diversify the perinatal workforce, including midwives and doulas; invest in community-based organizations working to promote maternal health equity; address social determinants of health like housing, nutrition, and environmental conditions; and expand access to maternal mental health care to ensure that every family in America can thrive. Underwood's Momnibus legislation passed the House of Representatives in the Build Back Better Act and awaits consideration in the Senate.

The United States has the highest rate of pregnancy-related mortality among high-income countries, and the only rate that is rising. Maternal mortality rates for Black and Native Americans are 2-4 times higher than rates for white Americans, and Hispanic and AAPI people also experience disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity.

The Maternal Vaccination Act will:

  • Establish a Maternal Vaccination Awareness and Equity Campaign at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC);
  • Protect moms and babies against vaccine-preventable diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond; and
  • Provide funding to increase immunization rates during and after pregnancy in communities with historically low vaccination rates.

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