Every year, Vaccinate Your Family publishes its State of the ImmUnion Report, detailing ways policymakers can increase immunization rates across the lifespan. These include:
Increasing Access to Vaccines by Expanding Vaccinators and Vaccination Locations
We need to be sure vaccinations are available where and when people are ready to receive them. To expand access to vaccines, Congress should:
- Support pharmacist vaccination
- Include community health workers and promotores (CHWs/Ps) as core partners in vaccinating
- Allow Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Centers (RHCs) to bill for vaccine counseling and vaccination-only visits
Facilitating Access for All
Expanding who can administer a vaccine and in what locations is just one piece of the puzzle. People also need to be able to access vaccines even if they cannot afford them. We urge Congress to:
- Close the final gaps in Medicare coverage
- Create additional opportunities for physicians to bill for vaccines under Medicare Part D
- Raise awareness of Medicaid coverage
Ensuring Rare Injuries are Covered and Compensated in a Timely Manner
The U.S. recommends vaccines for people of all ages to stop the spread of infectious diseases and protect against suffering and premature death. To ensure patients are compensated fairly in the extremely rare case of a vaccine injury, Congress should:
- Expand the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to all adults
- Increase awards to reflect inflation
- Ensure an excise tax for new vaccines is levied on manufacturers swiftly
- Increase resources for the Department of Justice and increase the number of judges
- Move COVID-19 vaccine compensation to the VICP.
Increasing Funding to Support State and Local Public Health Agencies’ Efforts
State and local health departments are struggling to address lower routine vaccination rates, increased costs, and outbreaks. The CDC’s Section 317 Immunization Program provides critical vaccine funding to states, territories, and a few large cities, but it is woefully underfunded. Congress should:
- Increase Section 317 Immunization Program funding to $1.1 billion
Raising Awareness of the Critical Importance of Lifesaving Vaccines
Vaccines are a victim of their own success. Because many of us have never seen polio or measles, it is easy to think these diseases are not a threat to ourselves or our families. We need trusted voices to help the public understand that routine vaccines are still our best defense against serious outcomes from dangerous infectious diseases. Members of Congress can:
- Be a resource to their constituents
- Make it personal
- Hold or attend vaccine clinics or events
Read our latest State of the ImmUnion report to learn more.
Please join us in urging Congress to protect our communities from vaccine-preventable diseases by sharing the recommendations from our report with them. Click here to email your members of Congress today.
