Reaching More Children and Adults: Filling Gaps In Section 317 Program Through ARRA Vaccine Funds

Background:  Research suggests gaps have increased in funding to purchase vaccines. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provided approximately $168 million, which were made available to CDC’s Section 317 grantees from June 2009-August 2010, to purchase vaccines.  Funds were allocated to supplement the Section 317 program in implementing a comprehensive immunization program at the federal, state, and local levels.

Objectives: The objectives were to (1) evaluate the types of vaccines purchased with ARRA vaccine funds; (2) compare ARRA with Section 317 vaccine expenditures to identify how possible 317 funding gaps may have been addressed with ARRA funds.

Methods:  Vaccine order data were extracted from CDC’s vaccine ordering management systems to assess vaccine cost forecasting/allocations. Order data from 6/1/2009-9/30/2010 were examined to determine the aggregate information regarding the ARRA-funded vaccines. CDC vaccine funding tracking documents were used to compare previous Section 317 vaccine expenditures to ARRA vaccine expenditures.

Results:  Overall, ARRA vaccine expenditures consisted of 46% pediatric vaccines and 27% adult vaccines. Influenza vaccine represented 27% of total ARRA vaccine expenditures. Among ARRA influenza expenditures, 57% was for pediatric vaccines and 43% was for adult. Twenty-four grantees used ARRA funds for both pediatric and adult influenza vaccines.  Nine grantees used ARRA funds for only pediatric influenza and routine vaccines, while 2 grantees used ARRA funds for only adult influenza and routine vaccines.   Four routine vaccines (Tdap, HPV, Varicella, Prevnar, and Meningococcal) compromised 62% of overall ARRA funds used for routine vaccines.

Conclusions:  The majority of all ARRA vaccine funding were used to purchase pediatric vaccines. The most expensive and newest vaccines were the vaccine types most commonly purchased. ARRA vaccine funds were able to provide some vaccines not previously provided because of limited Section 317 vaccine funding.