By: Springer S.B. No. 403
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study on the side effects, adverse reactions,
including death, and the effectiveness of vaccines against the
SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) or its variants.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) In this section:
1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
Commission.
2) "Executive commissioner" means the executive commissioner
of the Health and Human Services Commission.
3) "Department" means the Department of State Health
Services.
4) "COVID-19" means the SARS-CoV-2 virus and any of its
variants.
5) "Vaccine" means a substance used to stimulate immunity to
a particular infectious disease or pathogen, typically prepared
from an inactivated or weakened form of the causative agent or from
its constituents or products.
(b) The Commission in collaboration with the Department shall
conduct a study to assess the full and complete adverse reactions,
including death, and effectiveness of each type of vaccine used in
Texas to defend the human body against "COVID-19. The Report must
include:
1) The immediate short-term side effects and adverse
reactions recipients experienced from taking the various COVID-19
vaccines used in Texas; including but not limited to include:
i. Pain, swelling, or redness where the shot was given
ii. Mild fever
iii. Chills
iv. Feeling tired
v. Headache
vi. Muscle and joint aches
2) The immediate serious side effects and adverse reactions
recipients experienced from taking the various COVID-19 vaccines
used in Texas; including but not limited to include:
i. difficulty breathing;
ii. swelling of the face and throat;
iii. accelerated heartbeat;
iv. a body rash;
v. dizziness; and
vi. weakness
3) Any long-term side effects and adverse reactions
recipients have experienced from taking the various COVID-19
vaccines used in Texas; including but not limited to include:
i. paralysis;
ii. Myocarditis;
iii. clotting disorders;
iv. Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS);
v. Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS);
vi. difficulty thinking or "brain fog,"
vii. chronic pain;
viii. tiredness and fatigue;
ix. loss of taste;
x. depression;
xi. anxiety; and
xii. death.
4) Any misrepresentations about the effectiveness or
dangers of taking of the vaccine by its manufacturers or any
governmental agency; and,
5) Any concealment of information about the
effectiveness or dangers of taking of the vaccine by its
manufacturers or any governmental agency.
(c) The Commission and the Department shall gather information for
the report from:
1) information collected by the Commission and the
Department, including information from the department's vital
statistics unit and the state Medicaid program;
2) hospitals, treatment centers, available surveys; and
3) and other relevant sources.
SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 1, 2024, the Commission and
Department shall prepare and submit to the Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
Chairpersons of the relevant Texas legislative committees with
jurisdiction over the Commission and the Department, a copy of the
report, summary of any findings, and any recommendations for
legislative or executive action to reduce the prevalence of
COVID-19 Vaccine side effects. The department may post the report
on the department's Internet website.
(b) The Commission and Department may accept gifts, grants,
and donations from any source to fund expenses
incurred by the Commission and the Department in
preparing the report.
SECTION 3. This Act expires September 1, 2025.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote
of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided
by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does
not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes
effect September 1, 2023.