Wednesday, January 15, 2025
1/15/2025
PROJECT ABSTRACT: The Vermont Department of Health submits this project for consideration for CDC’s PS 21-2103: Integrated Viral Hepatitis Surveillance and Prevention Funding for Health Departments. The purpose of funding will be to address the priorities the CDC has set, of improving hepatitis surveillance, including outbreak control; facilitating state viral hepatitis elimination planning; and increasing access to hepatitis testing, prevention, vaccinations, Syringe Services Programs, medically assisted treatment and treatment services. VDH proposes to address these priorities by targeting all funding to support the existing viral hepatitis staff position, embedded within the VDH’s HIV/AIDS, STD, Viral Hepatitis Program. This position is an integral facet of VDH response to the syndemic of HIV, viral hepatitis and Substance Use Disorder. The coordinator will spearhead efforts to continue to implement strategies and activities to attain the following required identified outcomes, detailed in the Logic Model provided in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Under Component 1: Core Viral Hepatitis Outbreak Response & Surveillance, VDH will make progress in: • Establishing a jurisdictional framework for outbreak detection and response in VT. • Increasing public health reporting of chronic and perinatal HCV and chronic HBV infection in VT, and undetectable HCV RNA and HBV DNA laboratory results. • Improving monitoring of VT’s burden of disease, trends, and outcomes in hepatitis A, acute hepatitis B and C, chronic hepatitis B and C, and perinatal hepatitis C. • Improving monitoring of the hepatitis B and C continuums of cure (CoC). • Improving development and utilization of viral hepatitis surveillance data reports in VT. Under Component 2: Core Viral Hepatitis Prevention, VDH will make progress in: • Increasing engagement with VT’s key stakeholders in viral hepatitis elimination planning. • Increasing commercial and hospital-based laboratories conducting HCV RNA reflex testing in VT. • Increasing HCV and HBV testing in VT’s health care systems. • Increasing utilization of SSPs among PWID and referral of PWID to SUD treatment. • Increasing receipt of hepatitis A and B vaccination among clients in high-impact settings. • Increasing number of VT healthcare providers trained in prescribing hepatitis C and/or hepatitis B treatment. • Increasing awareness of infection status among VT’s diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C and/or hepatitis B. • Increased referral to treatment for Vermonters living with hepatitis C and/or hepatitis B.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).