Strengthening Vaccine-Preventable Disease Prevention & Response, New York City - The New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Bureau of Immunization (BOI) is applying for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Strengthening Vaccine-Preventable Disease Prevention and Response cooperative agreement to support efforts to prevent the occurrence and transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) through a comprehensive immunization program. Activities will support: 1) promoting, supporting, and monitoring immunization across the lifespan, 2) conducting VPD surveillance and implementing control measures, and 3) expanding capacity to respond rapidly to VPD outbreaks and pandemics. NYC, with a population of nearly 8.3 million people living in 5 boroughs (counties), faces declining and plateauing vaccination coverage and rising cases of VPDs, such as measles and pertussis, since the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the 5-year budget period of this project, BOI will increase vaccination coverage and build upon our capacity to respond to VPD cases, outbreaks and pandemics, ultimately reducing the incidence and transmission of VPDs in NYC. Below, we outline the program outcomes corresponding to the required project strategies: • Strategy 1: Enhanced program infrastructure to support citywide immunization activities, including administering the Vaccines for Children (VFC), adult immunization, and Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention programs as well as the Citywide Immunization Registry (CIR), NYC’s Immunization Information System. • Strategy 2: Increased vaccine access by enrolling more providers in the VFC program, including birthing hospitals and pharmacies, and increasing participation in adult immunization programs. • Strategy 3: Improved vaccination coverage among populations with low vaccination coverage, including increased on-time, combined-7 series for 2-year-olds and vaccination coverage during pregnancy. • Strategy 4: Increased vaccine confidence and demand by engaging trusted community messengers and strengthening partnerships with pediatricians, family physicians, and obstetricians as well as federally qualified health centers and independent providers. • Strategy 5: Improved data systems by increasing CIR functionality, data quality, HL7 provider connections and compliance with CDC IIS Functional Standards as well as enhanced school vaccination compliance and VPD surveillance and response operations. • Strategy 6: Strengthened support to healthcare partners, pharmacies and other immunization providers and trusted messengers by hosting immunization coalitions, educational sessions and office hours and providing technical assistance. • Strategy 7: Enhanced capacity to respond rapidly to VPD cases, outbreaks and pandemics through collaboration with emergency preparedness and response partners, conducting outbreak and mass vaccination drills and exercises and updating a vaccination pandemic response plan.
