Strengthening Vaccine-Preventable Disease Prevention and Response - The New Hampshire Immunization Program (NHIP) supports health systems with our shared goal of sustaining and increasing vaccine coverage rates across the lifespan, low incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases and the ability to respond to vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks. Our commitment to these goals is demonstrated through a strong foundation of staff in the core areas of Vaccine Accountability, Provider Quality Assurance, Immunization Information Systems, Epidemiology and Surveillance and through collaborative partnerships throughout the state. NH’s universal vaccine purchase status prevents barriers to receipt of vaccine for all children birth through 18 years. This is accomplished through a combination of funding that highlights the commitment of many, including the NH Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the NH state legislature, the NH Department of Insurance, insurers and the federal Vaccine for Children (VFC) program. This combination of funding allows increased access to vaccine for all children by supplying all routinely recommended vaccines to enrolled health care providers. Section 317 funding of the Public Health Service Act authorizes awards to States, political subdivisions of States and to other public entities to assist in meeting the costs of health prevention services. NH priorities for Section 317 funding includes supporting public health infrastructure, maintaining an adequate supply of vaccine for uninsured adults and emergent vaccine needs. 317 funding is also prioritized for rapid response efforts related to vaccine- preventable disease outbreaks, including rapid VPD identification and investigation of cases/outbreaks, surveillance activities, laboratory testing, implementing vaccination and additional measures to control the spread of VPDs and future outbreaks. This financial opportunity will be directed towards achieving the work plan goals and objectives, based on the current Immunization Program Operations Manual (IPOM) and the mission of Healthy People 2030 that seeks “To promote, strengthen and evaluate the Nation’s efforts to improve the health and well- being of all people”. These goals and objectives include project activities focused on health care provider and public education and outreach, vaccine accountability, supporting immunization outreach, VPD surveillance and IIS implementation, maintenance, and enhancement. The current funding opportunity builds upon the foundation of work conducted under previous Immunization and VFC cooperative agreement and focuses on supporting infrastructure and capacity to achieve programmatic outcomes to ensure high vaccination coverage, low incidence of vaccine-preventable disease, readiness and response to VPD threats, and enhancement of the NHIIS to further advance immunization program work. The NH Immunization Program looks forward to our continued partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and with our stakeholders throughout NH, protecting, promoting and improving the health and well-being of all NH citizens.
