Washington News: Department of Health Immunization Program

July 1, 2009 2:54 PM Topics: Vaccinations

Published in the July 2009 Washington State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter

Washington’s universal childhood vaccine purchase program changes July 1, 2009. This is due to budget cuts in the state 2009-2011 biennium. The budget directs the department to discontinue state funded purchasing of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines starting July 1, 2009, and discontinue state funded purchasing of all other vaccines May 1, 2010.

Starting July 1, 2009, children with private health insurance are no longer eligible to receive a state-supplied HPV vaccine. Please visit the following Web site for more information on these changes: www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/Immunize/providers/universal.htm. Providers will still order state-supplied HPV vaccines at no charge through their local health department for the following:

• VFC eligible children: Children eligible to receive a HPV vaccine from the state include children 18 years of age and younger who are Medicaid-eligible, Native American, Alaskan Native, uninsured, and underinsured. Underinsured is defined as having health insurance, but it does not cover vaccines or has a limit on vaccine coverage.
• Children in state sponsored health plans: Department of Social and Health Services – State Children’s Health Insurance Program Health Care Authority – Basic Health Plan. Pharmacists are encouraged to establish vaccine immunization programs using collaborative drug therapy agreements to more widely offer immunization. If you have questions, concerns, or ideas to help create a new system that works for public and private health and keeps children protected, please contact the departments’ Immunization Program CHILD Profile at 1-866/397-0337, or by e-mail at UniversalChanges@doh.wa.gov.