U.S. Representative Terri Sewell, D-Alabama, introduced the Maternal Vaccination Act on Thursday to improve maternal and childhood vaccination rates and protect the health of mothers and babies.
The bill is part of the larger Momnibus, a package of 14 bills aimed at addressing the causes of maternal mortality, morbidity and disparities in the United States. Sewell said she is a proud member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus.
“In this nation of so much wealth and prosperity, it is unconscionable that our mothers continue to die during pregnancy and childbirth at the highest rate in the developed world,” Sewell said. “I’m proud to be a part of the effort in Congress to address this crisis as the lead sponsor of the Maternal Vaccination Act. Our bill will save lives by protecting our most vulnerable moms and babies from deadly, preventable diseases.”
The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any high-income country, with about 17.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2024, and Alabama consistently ranks among the deadliest states for pregnant women. The problem disproportionately affects Black women, who die from pregnancy-related causes at a rate three times higher than white women. More than 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, and comprehensive federal action could address the causes of the crisis and save lives.
A press release from Sewell’s office said maternal vaccination plays a critical role in preventing pregnancy-related deaths because pregnancy carries a heightened risk of complications from infections. It also protects newborns, who rely on their mothers’ antibodies during the first several months of life.
The Maternal Vaccination Act would fund a public and provider awareness campaign to promote maternal and child vaccinations. The campaign would aim to increase awareness of the safety, importance and effectiveness of vaccines for pregnant and postpartum women and their children; provide targeted, evidence-based, culturally and linguistically appropriate vaccine resources to pregnant and postpartum women, particularly in communities with historically low vaccination rates; and provide evidence-based information and resources on the safety and importance of maternal and child vaccinations to public health departments, maternal health care providers and perinatal health workers.
