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U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

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Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act

The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (Secretary) to issue a PREP Act declaration. The declaration provides immunity from liability (except for willful misconduct) for claims:

  • of loss caused, arising out of, relating to, or resulting from administration or use of countermeasures to diseases, threats and conditions
  • determined by the Secretary to constitute a present, or credible risk of a future public health emergency
  • to entities and individuals involved in the development, manufacture, testing, distribution, administration, and use of such countermeasures

A PREP Act declaration is specifically for the purpose of providing immunity from liability, and is different from, and not dependent on, other emergency declarations.

COVID-19 PREP Act Declarations

The end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration does not automatically terminate PREP Act coverage. To learn more, view our COVID-19 PREP Act FAQs.

Other Current PREP Act Declarations

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