Immunization Newsbriefs (c) Copyright Information Inc., Bethesda, MD. Brought to you by the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii). Visit NNii's new website at http://www.immunizationinfo.org.
------------------------------------------------------------
January 27, 2003
U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS
"Bush Seeks Free Shots for Children"
Deseret News (www.deseretnews.com) (01/25/03) P. A2; Meckler, Laura
President Bush's new budget proposal offers free vaccinations to children with special needs. The administration's 2004 budget calls for a cash infusion of $175 million to help replenish the stockpile of childhood vaccines and to make improvements to the Vaccine for Children program. The vaccine supply will be built over the next four years, at a cost of $707 million. The Vaccine for Children program addresses the vaccination needs of financially challenged children or those with special circumstances that would hinder them from getting vaccinations, including children on Medicaid, American Indians and Alaskan natives, children without healthcare insurance, and underinsured children. In the case of underinsured children, the Bush budget plan would cover the cost of vaccinations at regular health clinics, at a cost of $40 million for 2004. The plan also calls for the restoration of the tetanus and diphtheria vaccines to the vaccine program.
ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND
MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION
PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS
OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR
LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND
COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH
YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.