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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.

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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.