Financing Vaccines in the 21st Century

In 2003, the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) formed a working group to examine recommendations related to vaccine financing contained in the 2003 Institute of Medicine report on financing immunizations, “Financing Vaccines in the 21st Century: Assuring Access and Availability.” During 2003-2004, the working group conducted a series of activities leading to a meeting with stakeholders in June 2004. Based on these discussions and meetings, NVAC recommended that the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) not adopt the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendation to replace the current immunization financing system with an insurance mandate and system of subsidies and vouchers. NVAC instead proposed substantial, but incremental, changes to the current system that would go a long way toward stabilizing the financing of immunizations in the United States. The proposed changes include 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.