---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 256c"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "256c"
heading: "Bulk purchases of vaccines for certain programs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/256c"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter II — General Powers and Duties"
  - "Part D — Primary Health Care"
  - "Subpart viii — bulk purchases of vaccines for certain programs"
---

# §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](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), acting through the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in consultation with the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) of the Health Resources and [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) Administration, shall enter into negotiations with [manufacturers](/usc/42/300aa–33.md?p=3) of vaccines for the purpose of establishing and maintaining agreements under which entities described in [paragraph (2)](#a-2) may purchase vaccines from the [manufacturers](/usc/42/300aa–33.md?p=3) at the prices specified in the agreements.
  - (2) **Relevant entities—** The entities referred to in [paragraph (1)](#a-1) are entities that provide immunizations against vaccine-preventable diseases with assistance provided under [section 254b of this title](/usc/42/254b.md).
- (b) **Negotiation of prices—** In carrying out [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) 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](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) on behalf of grantees under [section 247b(j)(1) of this title](/usc/42/247b.md?p=j-1).
- (c) **Authority of Secretary—** In carrying out [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), in the discretion of the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), 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](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) to reduce or terminate the supply of vaccines provided by the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) to any of the entities described in [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2).

## Source credit

(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.)

## Notes

### 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.