An estimated 10 million cases of vaccine preventable diseases and 33,000 deaths are prevented each year through timely immunization. However, on the other side, for those not immunized, approximately 43,000 adults and 300 children in the United States die annually from vaccine-preventable diseases or their complications. Despite high immunization coverage levels for preschool-aged children, pockets of need remain among both children and adults. Additional doses of vaccine are needed to purchase the full series of recommended vaccines for children who are not eligible for the Vaccines for Children program, but go to state and local public health departments for vaccinations. Most children served through Section 317 are under-insured or their parents are working poor who cannot afford the high deductibles or copayments required to fully vaccinate their children. Therefore, many of these children are under-immunized. Similar challenges exist for uninsured or under-insured adults who are recommended to receive vaccines.
Immunization infrastructure is crucial, especially when public health priorities can shift rapidly in the event of an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease or a bioterrorism event. Managing immunization resources to deal with urgent events or unanticipated shortages pose challenges to state programs.
Authorized under Section 317 of the Public Health Service Act, federal funding for the 317 grant program was launched in 1963. Forty-two years later, in 2005, CDC awarded $431 million in federal grants to state, local, and territorial public health agencies for program operations and vaccine purchase. Currently there are 64 grantees: all 50 states, six large cities, and eight territories and former territories.
The majority of Section 317 program funds are used by states to conduct routine childhood programs, with a smaller portion remaining for adult immunization programs. Therefore, despite high vaccination coverage levels among preschool-aged children, adult vaccination levels remain considerably lower and racial and ethnic disparities exist.
The Section 317 grant program works to ensure that children, adolescents, and adults receive appropriate immunizations by partnering with healthcare providers in the public and private sectors. The program helps assure the implementation of effective immunization practices and proper use of vaccines to achieve high immunization coverage, and supports infrastructure for essential activities such as immunization registries, outreach, disease surveillance, outbreak control, education, and service delivery. A strong immunization infrastructure ensures optimal coverage with routinely recommended vaccines.