Immunization 

IDSA joined an alliance of the nation's leading medical and advocacy groups to raise the public's confidence in vaccines.

Letter of IDSA's endorsement for H.R. 4990, the Vaccines for Children Access Act of 2008, and H.R. 4993, the Vaccines for the Uninsured Adult Act of 2008, two critical pieces of legislation will provide access to vaccines for millions of children, adolescents and adults and help reduce the number of vaccine-preventable deaths in this country.

Published in Clinical Infectious Diseases (June 15, 2007), the "blueprint for action" addresses: raising provider and public awareness regarding the availability of vaccines; improving public financing for vaccines; improving health insurance coverage; and improving quality, monitoring, and research.

IDSA has developed a fact sheet and statement on the HPV vaccine which supports ACIP recommendations for its use, and notes the importance of improving financing and coverage rates.

The Society joined a coalition of medical groups in urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to use statutory authority granted by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to cover all adult vaccines under Medicare Part B. Currently, while influenza, pneumococcal, and hepatitis B vaccines are coverd under Part B, all other vaccines are covered under Medicare's Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D). IDSA has supported previous attempts to shift all Medicare-covered vaccines to Part B due to access issues and quality concerns that have resulted from treating vaccines as prescription drugs under Part D.

IDSA and HIVMA call on the presidential candidates to promote a science-based approach to public health policy, including immunization safety, sexuality education programs, access to clean syringes and needles for injecting drug users, and diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease.

IDSA signed a coalition letter to House Appropriations Committee Chair, David Obey, urging that the committee not adopt any amendment which would restrict the use, or limit the availability, of recommended vaccines.

Comments to FDA on its document entitled "Guidance for Industry: Clinical Data Needed to Support the Licensure of Pandemic Influenza Vaccines"

IDSA applauds HHS’ efforts in the development of a Plan to address a future influenza pandemic and provides recommendations to strengthen US preparedness and response.

IOM report provides a comprehensive study on the policy and infrastructure changes necessary to detect, prevent, and respond to microbial threats to health.

IOM report provides a comprehensive study on vaccinations given in the first year of life and the association with sudden infant death syndrome.

IOM summary is the product of a workshop to discuss state-specific challenges for immunization finance and future strategies for strengthening immunization activities and the public health infrastructure that supports those activities.

IOM established a committee to review and report on the the process used by the U.S. military to acquire vaccines to protect military personnel against infectious disease threats.

The National Network for Immunization Information (NNii) provides up-to-date, science-based information to healthcare professionals, the media, policy makers, and the public — everyone who needs to know the facts about immunization. 

View IDSA's new extensive resources on avian and pandemic influenza, containing information on avian flu in humans and birds, the outbreak of H5N1 in Asia, treatment, vaccine development, travel recommendations, surveillance, infection control, pandemic preparedness planning, and more.