Newswise — The recent shortage of flu vaccine, which eventually became a surplus, points to problems with vaccine financing and production. Various solutions to these problems have been proposed, but there has been no consensus on the path to take. In an article published in the July issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, a summary of the findings of the Vaccine Financing Workgroup of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) suggests several steps to improve the present situation. These recommendations differ from those of a recent Institute of Medicine (IOM) report.

During 2003"2004, the NVAC working group conducted a series of discussions and meetings leading to a proposal for substantial, but incremental, changes to the current system that the group feels would go a long way toward stabilizing the financing of immunizations in the United States. In contrast to the IOM recommendation to replace the current immunization financing system with an insurance mandate and system of subsidies and vouchers, the NVAC would like to see "expanded and stable funding for the existing immunization grant program, expansion of the Vaccines for Children program, regulatory harmonization, promotion of 'first dollar' insurance coverage for immunizations, and the assurance of adequate reimbursement for the administration of vaccines."

When the IOM recommended, among other things, that insurers be required to cover immunizations, that vaccine prices be set in advance of their development, and that vaccine coverage decisions include societal benefits and costs, including consideration of the impact of the price of a vaccine on recommendations for its use, there were widespread and varied responses. Editorials in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times helped raise awareness of the complexities surrounding the vaccine industry. A briefing was held at the American Enterprise Institute at which reservations were expressed by many stakeholders about the Committee's recommendations. Questions and comments were raised by The Winter Immunization Forum of the National Partnership for Immunization and in an editorial comment in the journal Pediatrics by the past president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) makes several recommendations to stabilize financing of immunizations in the Untied States, including: expanded and stable funding through Section 317 of the Public Health Service Act for immunization program infrastructure and operations, as well as for vaccine purchase; expanded funding through Section 317 to support adolescent and adult immunization programs; expansion of the Vaccines for Children Program to include underinsured children in all public health clinics; promotion of "first-dollar" insurance coverage for immunization; and assurance of adequate reimbursement for administration of vaccines.

The article is titled "Financing Vaccines in the 21st Century: Recommendations from the National Vaccine Advisory Committee" by Alan R. Hinman, MD, MPH, for the National Vaccine Advisory Committee and appears in the July issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (Volume 29, Number 1) published by Elsevier.

Full text of the article mentioned above is available upon request.

© 2005 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINEThe American Journal of Preventive Medicine (http://www.ajpm-online.net) is the official journal of The American College of Preventive Medicine (http://www.acpm.org) and The Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine (http://www.atpm.org). It publishes articles in the areas of prevention research, teaching, practice and policy. Original research is published on interventions aimed at the prevention of chronic and acute disease and the promotion of individual and community health. The journal features papers that address the primary and secondary prevention of important clinical, behavioral and public health issues such as injury and violence, infectious disease, women's health, smoking, sedentary behaviors and physical activity, nutrition, diabetes, obesity, and alcohol and drug abuse. Papers also address educational initiatives aimed at improving the ability of health professionals to provide effective clinical prevention and public health services. The journal also publishes official policy statements from the two co-sponsoring organizations, health services research pertinent to prevention and public health, review articles, media reviews, and editorials.

The American Journal of Preventive Medicine is ranked 8th out of 89 Public, Environmental & Occupational Health titles and 12th out of 102 General and Internal Medicine titles according to the Institute for Scientific Information's 2003 Journal Citation Reports.

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CITATIONS

American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Volume 29:1 (July 2005) (Vol. 29:1, Jul-2005)