THE VACCINES FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM-STRENGTHENING VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASE PREVENTION AND RESPONSE - The Philadelphia Department of Public Health's (PDPH) Immunization Program is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which is the sixth largest city in the U.S. with a population of over 1.5 million. While Philadelphia is an economic center and home to an array of academic institutions, healthcare systems, and national historic sites, many residents face challenges such as poverty, lack of affordable housing, community violence, and food insecurity, which can adversely affect health outcomes. Lack of health insurance and lack of access to primary care present barriers to health care that can also contribute to poor health outcomes, as well as impeding access to immunizations and putting residents at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases. The Philadelphia Immunization Program is well-positioned to sustain and strengthen vaccine access for everyone in Philadelphia. The program is comprised of over 60 staff, including an experienced team of public health professionals led by a Program Manager, with support from a Deputy Program Manager, a CDC Public Health Advisor, and a Medical Director. PDPH has the organizational capacity to implement the required strategies and activities successfully. In alignment with the guidance in the Strengthening Vaccine-Preventable Disease Prevention and Response Notice of Funding Opportunity, the Philadelphia Immunization Program will implement the following strategies over the next five-year cooperative agreement: Strengthen program infrastructure and management by investing in the personnel who are critical to performing essential functions. Increase vaccine access by continuing to operate the Vaccines for Children (VFC) and Vaccines for Adults at Risk (VFAAR) programs. Improve vaccination rates by ensuring that providers have access to vaccines and that residents have access to the information they need to make decisions about vaccination. Promote vaccine confidence and demand by conducting education and outreach. Enhance data and evaluation by maintaining and improving the Immunization Information System (IIS) and using data to assess vaccination coverage rates, identify local gaps and trends, and inform program initiatives. Strengthen program support for partners by developing tailored communication materials for providers, parents, and the community to educate various stakeholders about the importance of immunizations in protecting people from vaccine-preventable diseases. Enhance vaccination response readiness by collaborating with the PDPH Acute Communicable Disease and Public Health Preparedness programs to prepare for and respond to small-scale and large-scale vaccine-preventable disease responses. PDPH has identified children and adolescents as priority populations for targeted immunization interventions, with a focus on increasing uptake of influenza and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. Specifically, PDPH’s efforts will target children aged 6 months to 17 years for influenza vaccination and adolescents aged 13 to 17 years for HPV vaccine completion. These vaccines are essential for reducing vaccine-preventable diseases, including severe influenza complications and cancers associated with HPV infection. Implementing these strategies and focusing on these selected populations will support achievement of the following long-term outcomes: 1) increased vaccine access; 2) increased vaccine confidence and demand; 3) enhanced data and evaluation; 4) strengthened program support for partners; 5) improved vaccination equity; and 6) enhanced vaccination response readiness.
