September 29, 2003
ROMNEY ANNOUNCES SHOT IN THE ARM FOR FLU VACCINE PROGRAM
Innovative agreement forged between commonwealth and private sector health plans
Governor Mitt Romney today joined leaders of seven private health care plans to announce an innovative partnership to ensure the state can supply flu vaccine this winter.
Romney announced that the health plans have agreed to contribute approximately $1.4 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Vaccine Trust Fund, which when combined with state and federal funding, enables the Department of Public Health to purchase 568,000 doses of flu vaccine for distribution, which is the same number of doses distributed last year.
“With winter coming, flu season is fast approaching,” said Romney. “We want to make sure that everyone in Massachusetts who wants a flu shot can get one. The creation of this vaccine trust fund will allow us to do that by partnering with private sector health care providers in order to ensure a steady flu vaccine supply.”
Although the account to purchase vaccine was level funded in this year’s budget, the cost of a single dose of flu vaccine rose by 16 percent, from $5.90 last year to $7.06 this year. Without this infusion of private health care plan funds, the Commonwealth could purchase only 350,000 doses of the vaccine.
The creation of the new fund also helps the Department of Public Health ensure that the childhood vaccination program is not reduced. That program provides all recommended childhood vaccines free for all children, regardless of insurance status.
Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey said, “State supplied doses of the flu vaccine account for about half of all flu vaccines administered in Massachusetts. Massachusetts has among the highest vaccination rates in the nation with 69 percent of adults 65 years of age and older receiving annual flu shots.”
Healey said the following the health care plans are participating in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Vaccine Trust Fund: Aetna; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts; Fallon Community Health Plan; Harvard Pilgrim Health Care; Health New England; Neighborhood Health Plan; and Tufts Health Plan.
“The state’s health plans recognize the serious fiscal challenges the state faces and by supporting this program they are doing their part to ensure that Massachusetts residents have access to necessary care,” said Dr. Marylou Buyse, a practicing primary care physician and president of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans. Six of the seven participating health care plans are MAHP members.
State supplied flu vaccine is distributed to local boards of health, community health centers, nursing homes, senior centers, visiting nurse associations and private health care providers that serve high-risk clients.
“Our immunization program is the bedrock of our health care system,” said Public Health Commissioner Christy Ferguson. “Anytime a person walks into a hospital with serious complications from the flu, there are cost ripples throughout the health care delivery system. This partnership represents good public health policy and sound economic sense.”
The state has received its initial shipment of vaccine and is currently distributing it throughout Massachusetts. The remaining doses will be available for distribution to provider sites by the week of October 5. Health care providers are encouraged to start vaccinating their high-risk patients as soon as vaccine is available. Public immunization clinics are usually scheduled in October and November. Since flu season usually does not get underway in New England until December, and doesn’t peak until January or February, it is not too late to get vaccinated in November, December or even later.
Individuals at risk for complications from the flu should get vaccinated each year. This includes everyone 50 years of age and older, and younger people with chronic medical conditions such as heart and lung disease, including asthma, metabolic diseases such as diabetes or an immune system compromised by disease or medication. Pregnant women who are in the second or third trimester during flu season (usually November through March) should also get vaccinated.
Influenza causes approximately 36,000 deaths and 114,000 hospitalizations each year nationwide. In Massachusetts, it is estimated that over 800 people die from influenza complications and an additional 4,600 are hospitalized.
###
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.