RD24 - Virginia Department of Health Plan for Equitable Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccine – January 4, 2021


Executive Summary:

During Special Session I of the 2020 General Assembly, Item 299 I of the 2020 Appropriation Act required the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to convene a work group to (i) evaluate the methods by which vaccines and other medications necessary to treat or prevent the spread of COVID-19 are made available to the public, (ii) identify and develop a plan to implement specific actions necessary to ensure such vaccines and other medications are equitably distributed in the Commonwealth to ensure all residents of the Commonwealth are able to access such vaccines and other medications, and (iii) make recommendations for any statutory, regulatory, or budgetary actions necessary to implement such plan. The bill requires that the work group include the Commonwealth's Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer and representatives of the Office of Health Equity at VDH, the Department of Emergency Management, and such other stakeholders as the department shall deem appropriate and which may be an existing work group or other entity previously convened for a related purpose. Finally, the bill requires VDH to make an initial report on its activities and any findings to the Chairs of the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by December 1, 2020, and shall report monthly thereafter.