Capital Digest

The Senate has passed legislation that would create a comprehensive federal child-immunization program.

The bill, S 732, would mandate vaccinations for all children and establish a nationwide computer registry to monitor implementation. Federally purchased vaccines would be distributed to state health-care providers, to be given to Medicaid-eligible children at no charge. The bill also calls for outreach efforts to increase public awareness of the need for and availability of immunization.

The vaccinations covered would be determined by an advisory committee appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the director of the Centers for...