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What does the CDC’s Vaccine Panel have to do with Medicaid?
Vaccine safety and changes happening at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have been an ongoing topic of conversation throughout the past few months. As we have previously discussed here on Say Ahhh!, HHS has announced upcoming studies and potential changes to how vaccines are approved and recommended for different populations. Most notably,…
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What is the Current Status of Vaccines in the US?
As fall respiratory virus season ramps up, major changes to the vaccine policy landscape in the U.S. are coming. Some states, such as Florida, have announced an effort to end all vaccine requirements for children to attend school. Federally, changes promulgated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have…
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New CMS Toolkit Outlines Vaccine Coverage and Payment Policies in Medicaid, CHIP and BHP
While it has long been clear that vaccines play a critical role in protecting individuals and communities from infectious disease, recent data show declining vaccination rates among individuals of all ages. For the 2020-21 school year, the vaccination rate among kindergartners declined nationwide, despite vaccine exemption policies remaining largely unchanged. Preliminary data indicate that among…
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New Data Underscores Need to Catch up on Routine Childhood Vaccinations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated data on vaccination coverage among kindergartners, showing a continued decline in the share of children with the recommended doses of routine childhood vaccines needed to prevent the spread of harmful diseases. The report includes data on vaccination rates by state for four vaccines: measles, mumps,…
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White House Enlists Broad Range of Programs, Partners to Connect Youngest Children to COVID Vaccines
Many parents are anxiously awaiting approval of the COVID vaccine for children under age 5. Once approved, the vaccines will close the final gap in vaccine access so that Americans of all ages can get immunized. As we wait for final approvals, the Biden Administration has been at work shoring up a range of partners…
