On the same day that changes were to occur in how vaccines are provided in Indiana, the Indiana State Department of Health announced those changes have been delayed. According to a press release from the State Department of Health, “Children around the state will be allowed to continue receiving immunizations from their local health department whether they are covered by insurance or not.” Earlier this year, the State Health Department provided local health departments with guidelines for the use of publicly funded vaccines, advising them to provide those vaccines only to underinsured and uninsured individuals beginning July 1. The guidelines were intended to help assure that publicly funded vaccines remained available for uninsured individuals throughout the year and to comply with the strict guidelines for the use of publicly funded vaccines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Friday afternoon, the State Health Department announced it will delay those guidelines from July 1 to Jan. 1. The delay is intended to help local health departments with the summer “back-to-school” immunization push so children will be able to meet school entry requirements. “In many counties, local health departments are the primary provider of all immunizations regardless of an individual’s insurance status,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. Gregory Larkin in the press release. “This delay ensures that a process will be in place which allows ready access to immunizations for all individuals while assuring appropriate use of funding sources.” The CDC provides Indiana with $90 million annually to provide free vaccinations to children through age 18 who are Medicaid-eligible, Alaska Native, American Indian, uninsured or who have private insurance that does not cover vaccinations. The state has a supplemental fund of $11 million to cover vaccinations for underinsured children, an account which had dwindled down to $120 at the end of the last fiscal year, according to the press release. Beginning in November, the State Health Department will provide implementation instructions to local health departments to assist with appropriate use of publicly funded and privately purchased vaccine supplies.“We are currently reviewing various solutions that will support the dedicated efforts of local health departments to deliver immunizations across the communities they support, including both uninsured and insured individuals,” said Larkin. State funds will continue to cover the cost of vaccinations for insured children until January. For information on how to contact your local health department, visit the Indiana State Department of Health at www.state.in.us/isdh/24822.htm
