Strengthening Vaccine-Preventable Disease Prevention and Response - Immunizations are one of the most successful public health interventions in reducing disease and preventing hospitalizations, long-term complications, and deaths from vaccine preventable diseases. They not only protect the person but also the community by stopping or slowing the spread of disease. National and state data indicate that immunization coverage rates are lower than needed for protecting communities from diseases. Childhood immunization coverage rates that declined during the pandemic are slowly rebounding but have still not reached pre-pandemic levels. Adolescent and adult immunization coverage rates, that saw no major decreases or increases during or after the pandemic, could be improved upon. The Vaccine Preventable Disease Section at the Minnesota Department of Health works to ensure that children and adults are properly immunized against vaccine-preventable disease. We supply vaccines for children who are eligible for the Vaccines for Children (VFC) and the Uninsured and Underinsured Adult Vaccine (UUAV) program, monitor the state's immunization rates, provide outreach and education to health care providers and the public, coordinate investigations and responses to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, and maintain and update the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC). The activities that we are proposing in our year one workplan will move us towards achieving our intended long term outcomes of increased vaccine access, increased vaccine confidence and demand, enhanced data and evaluation, strengthened program support for partners, improved vaccination equity, and enhanced vaccination response readiness.
