Strengthening Vaccine-Preventable Disease Prevention and Response - The City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) Immunization Program seeks to prevent and control transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases in persons of all ages, with an emphasis on individuals at highest risk for under-immunization. The Metro Health Immunization Program will continue to support this mission through a successful application to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Strengthening Vaccine-Preventable Disease Prevention and Response grant opportunity. The following grant application will outline the Metro Health Immunization Program’s activities and performance measures to support the 7 required program strategies to maintain core and component immunization program functions. Metro Health is the public health agency charged by state law, city code, and county resolution with the responsibility for providing public health programs in San Antonio and unincorporated areas of Bexar County. As a core program of Metro Health, the Immunization Program consists of five key units: Vaccines for Children (VFC) and 317/Adult Safety Net (ASN) programs including the Vaccine Management team and the Immunization Quality Improvement for Providers (IQIP) team; Outreach, Education, and Partnership program (IOEP); Immunization Information Systems (IIS) program; Clinical Services; and, the Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention and Vaccine-Preventable Disease (VPD) Surveillance program. Collectively, these units support the Metro Health Immunization Program’s long-term program goals of improving and sustaining vaccination coverage among children, adolescents, and adults; reducing vaccination disparities across pediatric, adolescent and adult populations; improving readiness to respond to VPD outbreaks and other related public health emergencies; reducing the incidence of VPDs; and reducing VPD-related morbidity and mortality. In order to achieve these long-term goals, the Metro Health Immunization Program conducts the following daily functions and activities: supports VPD data collection and surveillance systems; supports and increases use of the Texas state immunization registry (ImmTrac2); administers successful VFC and 317/ASN programs; ensures access to vaccines for under-immunized populations; conducts quality improvement and assurance activities with VFC and adult providers; provides immunization and VPD educational campaigns; and promotes training, education, and partnerships among providers and community stakeholders. This federal support will supplement state and local funds to ensure continuation of these critical activities. With CDC’s support, the Metro Health Immunization Program will achieve significant progress in addressing Healthy People 2030 priority areas under Immunization and Infectious Diseases and ensure the continued access to vital immunization services in San Antonio and Bexar County.
