Ban Kickbacks for Vaccination
Legislation to Ban Incentive Payments for Vaccinating Children
Section 1: Short Title This Act may be cited as the "NO BRIBES Act" (No Reward Incentives for Immunization of Children Act).
Section 2: Purpose The purpose of this Act is to protect children and their families from undue influence in healthcare decisions by prohibiting the use of incentive payments for the vaccination of minors.
Section 3: Definitions For the purposes of this Act:
Incentive Payment: Any monetary or non-monetary reward, compensation, or benefit provided to an individual, organization, or entity in exchange for the vaccination of a child.
Vaccination: The act of administering a vaccine to a child to prevent the spread of contagious diseases, as approved by relevant health authorities.
Child: An individual under the age of 18.
Section 4: Prohibition on Incentive Payments for Vaccination
General Prohibition: It shall be unlawful for any government agency, private healthcare provider, pharmaceutical company, or other entity to offer, give, or receive any form of incentive payment for the vaccination of a child.
Prohibited Practices: The following practices are specifically prohibited under this Act: a. Direct monetary payments to individuals, parents, or guardians for the purpose of encouraging the vaccination of a child. b. Indirect payments, such as gift cards, coupons, or prizes, provided as a reward for vaccination. c. Provision of financial incentives to healthcare providers or institutions that may encourage or prioritize vaccinations based on the receipt of such incentives.
Section 5: Exceptions Nothing in this Act shall prohibit:
Public health campaigns that provide information about the benefits of vaccination.
Voluntary donations to charitable organizations that support childhood vaccination efforts, provided these donations are not tied to the act of vaccinating any specific individual or group.
Funding for vaccination programs aimed at reaching underserved communities, as long as no direct or indirect incentive payments are offered to encourage individual participation.
Section 6: Enforcement
Penalties: Any individual, organization, or entity that violates the provisions of this Act shall be subject to civil penalties as follows: a. First offense: A fine of up to $10,000. b. Subsequent offenses: A fine of up to $25,000 per violation.
Government Agency Oversight: The Secretary of Health and Human Services or other relevant government agency shall have the authority to investigate and take enforcement actions against violations of this Act. In addition to the penalties above, violators may be subject to suspension or revocation of licenses or certifications relevant to their healthcare or vaccine administration activities.
Section 7: Education and Awareness
The Department of Health and Human Services shall ensure that all relevant parties, including healthcare providers, parents, and guardians, are made aware of this prohibition through public awareness campaigns, professional training, and educational resources.
The Department shall also provide resources for families to make informed, voluntary healthcare decisions without the influence of external incentives.
Section 8: Severability If any provision of this Act or its application to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid, the remainder of this Act and its application to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected.
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