Fenty Receives Vaccine Stimulus

  By Staff 

April 24, 2009, 12:30 a.m. - The Fenty Administration announced yesterday that the D.C. Department of Health has secured $346,711 for vaccination programs in the District. 

The funding was made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also known as the stimulus package. The money will be used to purchase and make available vaccines for low income residents. 

“The stimulus funding is an excellent opportunity for the District to be proactive about public health by preventing the spread of contagious diseases,” said Fenty. “These vaccines can provide a lifetime of protection that can help keep our citizens healthy for years to come.” 

The funding will allow DC to address the fact that it is still behind the rest of the country for adult immunizations. 

In the District, the 2007 adult vaccination rate for the flu was 60.2 percent compared to 72 percent nationally.  The funds will be used to purchase commonly needed vaccines to protect residents from diseases such as influenza (the “flu”), pneumococci (common cause of pneumonia), tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis A and B, and zoster (shingles).  DOH will also create an Adult Immunization Coordinator to ensure that the vaccines are being distributed and reaching the populations that would not otherwise have access to them.