NACDS joined allied stakeholders in sending a letter to Senate leadership urging them to “assure Americans of all ages have full access to recommended immunizations that improve health and protect lives” as they draft Senate healthcare legislation.
The letter, organized by the Adult Vaccine Access Coalition (AVAC), noted that while the standards for adult immunization practice are widely accepted, the value of vaccines in reducing the health and economic burden of vaccine preventable disease is not always fully recognized. Given that vaccine-preventable disease are estimated to cost $9-$26 billion annually, AVAC offered several policy recommendations to increase immunization rates.
The letter urged support for protecting coverage of Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)-recommended vaccines at no extra cost to consumers; adequate funding for federal, state and local immunization programs; access to immunizations for low-income populations by providing first-dollar coverage for ACIP-recommended vaccines to Medicaid beneficiaries; and adequately reimbursing providers who care for these patients.
