2009-07

Parity in Immunization Funding

Senator At Large Luz Z. Arce Ferrer (PR)

Joining the demand of different sectors in Puerto Rico, US territories and other affected areas of the United States mainland, requesting the President and Congress of the United States fully fund federal immunization programs to parity in order to strengthen infrastructure for child and adult immunization and to improve vaccination coverage rates for children and adults overall, thereby assuring that Hispanics and minority groups
receive equal and just treatment in health promotion and prevention programs.

WHEREAS, as the fastest growing ethnic populations in the United States, Latinos have
a major impact on the health care system. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that, by 2040, there will be 87.5 millions Latinos in the United States, comprising 22.3 percent of the population. (Today, there are 37.4 million Latinos, representing 13.3 percent of the
population, and they are largely of Mexican- American descent.);

WHEREAS, good health can be elusive for some residents of the United States and its territories. Access to health promotion, prevention programs and appropriate health care are often relative to race or ethnicity, gender, education, disability, geographic location, sexual orientation and/or economic status;

WHEREAS, despite progress, ethnic disparities persist among the 10 leading health indicators identified in the 2010 national health objectives. Based on the most recent data available, Hispanics or Hispanic subpopulations trailed non-Hispanic whites in various measures of the leading health indicators, including:

1) Those under the age of 65 years with health insurance (66percent Hispanics VS 87 percent non Hispanics whites, in 2002),

2) Those with a regular source of ongoing health care (77 percent VS 90 percent, in 2002),

3) Children age 19-35 months who are fully vaccinated 73 percent VS 78 percent, in 2002), adults aged 65 and older administered influenza
and pneumococcal vaccination in the preceding 12 month (49 percent VS 69 percent in 2002);

WHEREAS, Hispanics bear a disproportionate burden of disease, injury, death, and
disability when compared with non- Hispanic whites, the largest racial/ ethnic population
in the United States;

WHEREAS, a strong immunization program integrated with a well funded public health
program is a major key to maintaining the health of our society and to respond to major health crises such as the current influenza pandemic;

WHEREAS, immunizations protect both individuals and the larger population. In their role as guardians of the public’s health, states play a significant role in determining immunization policies. State legislators face decisions related to the increasingly
complex vaccine schedule and recommendations. Legislators should be aware about new vaccines but are asked to balance the need to protect the public’s health against the difficulties presented by funding and addressing concerns of people who may object to mandatory immunization;

WHEREAS, the majority of states depend primarily on federal resources to purchase vaccines. However, federal programs do not cover all children’s, older and adults, so many states supplement these funds;

WHEREAS, childhood immunizations remain as one of the most successful public health interventions, but someone still must pay the bill. New vaccines, high prices and costs for liability protection for manufacturers keep the cost of immunizing the 11,000 babies born each day on the rise;

WHEREAS, low resources communities will struggle with the cost of vaccines, introduction of new vaccines, and breaking barriers to vaccinations;

WHEREAS, the claim for parity in the Federal health programs is the basic objective of the Government of Puerto Rico as part of the arguments in favor of a Federal health reform;

WHEREAS, reaffirming its commitment to fight for the rights and a better quality of life for the millions Hispanics in the United States, The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL), plays an important role for this claim for parity in immunizations
funds to become a reality.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL), join the demand of different sectors in Puerto Rico, territories and the United States, requesting the President and US Congress bring parity to federal funds for the immunization programs by strengthening federal and state immunization programs;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that better investment in the infrastructure of child and adult immunization and improved vaccination coverage rates for children and adults will assure that Hispanics and other minority groups receive equal and just treatment in
health promotion and prevention programs.

This resolution was adopted on July 25, 2009, at the
National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators Executive Committee Spring Meeting held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and ratified at the NHCSL 2009 Annual Meeting held in Santa Monica, California on November 21st, 2009.