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Background: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provided approximately $97 million to support immunization program operations and infrastructure. The funding provided an opportunity for state, territorial and urban area grantees to implement new strategies to increase vaccinations in various populations. The Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to document these strategies.
Setting: State, territorial, and urban area immunization programs (64 federally-funded immunization grantees) receiving ARRA funds
Population: Various; some strategies targeted selective population such as caregivers of infants while other strategies were aimed at adult populations or school populations.
Project Description: This project documented the strategies implemented by grantees using ARRA funds. The presentation will provide an overview of the strategies chosen by immunization programs, how programs were able to implement strategies to address gaps in their existing immunization program activities, and any evaluation efforts or information gathered on lessons learned.
Results/Lessons Learned: Immunization programs implemented a broad array of strategies, including providing free vaccine services for uninsured and underinsured adults, increasing vaccination services at birthing hospitals, conducting school-located vaccination clinics, vaccinating the caregivers of infants against pertussis (to prevent the spread of the disease to the unprotected newborns and infants), conducting influenza vaccination and education campaigns for healthcare workers, enhancing immunization information systems, developing systems for public health clinics to bill insurance companies for immunization services provided to insured individuals, and many other initiatives. Discussion will focus on how programs implemented these strategies and lessons learned about sustainability and success.