Us Code § 256c - Bulk purchases of vaccines for certain programs
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 256c — Bulk purchases of vaccines for certain programs, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 256c. Bulk purchases of vaccines for certain programs
(a) Agreements for purchases
(1) In general
Not later than 180 days after October 27, 1992, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in consultation with the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall enter into negotiations with manufacturers of vaccines for the purpose of establishing and maintaining agreements under which entities described in paragraph (2) may purchase vaccines from the manufacturers at the prices specified in the agreements.
(2) Relevant entities
The entities referred to in paragraph (1) are entities that provide immunizations against vaccine-preventable diseases with assistance provided under section 254b of this title.
(b) Negotiation of prices
In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, ensure that the prices provided for in agreements under such subsection are comparable to the prices provided for in agreements negotiated by the Secretary on behalf of grantees under section 247b(j)(1) of this title.
(c) Authority of Secretary
In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary, in the discretion of the Secretary, may enter into the agreements described in such subsection (and may decline to enter into such agreements), may modify such agreements, may extend such agreements, and may terminate such agreements.
(d) Rule of construction
This section may not be construed as requiring any State to reduce or terminate the supply of vaccines provided by the State to any of the entities described in subsection (a)(2).
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, §340C, formerly §340B, as added Pub. L. 102–531, title III, §305, Oct. 27, 1992, 106 Stat. 3494; renumbered §340C, Pub. L. 103–43, title XX, §2008(i)(2)(A)(ii), June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 213; amended Pub. L. 104–299, §4(a)(2), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3645.)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1996—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 104–299 substituted "with assistance provided under section 254b of this title" for "under the programs established in sections 254b, 254c, 256, and 256a of this title."
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 104–299 effective Oct. 1, 1996, see section 5 of Pub. L. 104–299, as amended, set out as a note under section 233 of this title.
About This Section
42 U.S.C. § 256c is part of Title 42 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
This section may be cited in legal writing as 42 U.S.C. § 256c. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.
How to Read This Statute
Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.
Using This Page
This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.