Rhode Island Strengthening VPD Prevention and Response - Rhode Island Department of Health, Office of Immunization Strengthening Vaccine Preventable Disease Prevention and Response Opportunity #25-0007 The mission of the Rhode Island (RI) Department of Health’s Office of Immunization is to safeguard the health of all Rhode Islanders by ensuring access to safe and effective immunizations. We are dedicated to preventing the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) through comprehensive education, outreach, and accessible vaccination services, promoting the health and well-being of individuals and communities throughout the state. The goal of the RI Office of Immunization’s application for Components 1, 2, and 3: Strengthening Vaccine Preventable Disease Prevention and Response, is to bolster public health systems that protect individuals and communities from VPDs by enhancing access to vaccines, building vaccine confidence, and increasing demand for immunizations. Our objectives are to improve and maintain vaccination coverage across all age groups, reduce disparities in vaccination rates, enhance data and evaluation through our IIS, improve preparedness for responding to VPD outbreaks and other public health emergencies, and ultimately lower the incidence of VPDs, as well as their associated morbidity and mortality. The project narrative describes the development, evaluation, implementation, and assessment of services designed to promote immunization efforts, aiming to achieve and sustain high vaccination coverage, reduce disparities, and decrease the occurrence of VPDs. It also highlights our efforts to improve the state’s readiness to respond to potential VPD threats and to strengthen data and evaluation. The Core application outlines the RI Office of Immunization’s approach to achieving these objectives and meeting the required activities and performance measures across the following areas: 1. Strengthen Program Infrastructure and Management 2. Increase Vaccine Access 3. Improve Vaccination Equity 4. Promote Vaccine Confidence and Demand 5. Enhance Data and Evaluation 6. Strengthen Program Support for Partners 7. Enhance Vaccination Response Readiness We present a proposed budget that is both reasonable and aligned with the goals, outcomes, and strategies outlined in the project narrative. The funding for this project will be used to implement, develop, and/or enhance the Vaccines for Children (VFC) and Section 317 vaccine programs for eligible individuals in Rhode Island.
