Report seeks more federal support for childhood vaccinations
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter calls for more funding to be directed to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Congress should direct more funding and assistance to boost childhood immunization programs across the nation, according to a report released Tuesday by Trust for America's Heath, a nonpartisan public health group.
"The federal government has an important role to play in promoting full vaccination rates," said Shelley Hearne, the group's executive director.
The report, "Closing the Vaccination Gap: A Shot in the Arm for Childhood Immunization Programs," also received the backing of Rosalynn Carter, former first lady and president and co-founder of the immunization advocacy group Every Child By Two. During a conference call with reporters, Carter noted that the federal government already supports childhood vaccination, but she said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not have enough resources to provide sufficient support for immunization programs.
"You need to increase that investment," Carter said.
During the presidency of her husband, Jimmy Carter, Congress passed laws that require immunizations before children enter school. As a result, 95 percent of school-age children have all their mandated vaccinations. According to the report, however, 20 percent of U.S. preschool children -- about 2.1 million -- have not received the full slate of routine immunizations.
The report's findings also were supported by Samuel Katz, a professor and doctor at Duke University who helped develop the measles vaccine, and Betty Bumpers, former first lady of Arkansas and a co-founder of Every Child By Two.
Trust for America's Health laid out two recommendations for specific federal government action, including financial support for national immunization registries and legislative support for the Children's Vaccine Access Act.
The report estimated that about 43 percent of children under 6 years old have their immunizations recorded in a registry.
"A stable funding source for registries is needed," the report said, "to secure increased funding of $74 million annually to cover their cost."
The Children's Vaccine Access Act would allow increased access to immunization for underinsured children, according to the report.
"It is the underinsured that we are particularly concerned about," Bumpers said.
That legislation was introduced by Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., in April. It is under review in the Senate Finance Committee.
According to Trust for America's Health, the increased federal spending on immunizations would reap a quick reward in decreased health care costs. The report estimated that every dollar spent on immunizations will save $6.30.
"The cost savings and medical benefits resulting from a protected population," Hearne said, "make this an important issue for Congress to address."