 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Christopher Lindley, MPH, Denver Center for Public Health Preparedness, Denver Public Health, 605 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80204, 303-436-7376, Chris.Lindley@dhha.org, Gregory M. Bogdan, PhD, Denver Center for Public Health Preparedness, Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Center, 1010 Yosemite Circle, Denver, CO 80230, Anna-Marie Gregory, RN, Emerging Infectious Pathogens, Denver Public Health, 605 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80204, Mona Bedell, RN, MSPH, Immunization Clinic, Denver Public Health, 605 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80204, Arthur J. Davidson, MD, MSPH, Denver Center for Public Health Preparedness, Denver Public Health Department, 605 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80204, and James Ransom, MPH, NACCHO, 1100 17th St. NW, Second Floor, Washington, DC 20036.
Background: Local public health agencies (LPHAs) have dedicated significant resources (staffing, training, facilities) toward implementing the Pre-Event Smallpox Vaccination Program. Accomplished with CDC Bioterrorism Supplemental funding and other LPHA resources, true costs may exceed original estimates. The original CDC cost estimate was $13 per vaccinee for planning, operations and follow up. However, other ancillary program costs and implementation resources (e.g., medical consultation and public education) may have been inaccurately considered. Methods: Denver Public Health tracked all resources utilized for this program since its announcement in November until completion of Phase 1 vaccinations for LPHA and hospital personnel. Costs associated with personnel, facilities, and supplies for all three stages (planning, operations, and follow up) were tabulated. Focus groups were conducted at the completion of each stage to record lessons learned and to propose cost reduction measures for subsequent vaccination phases. Results: The costs were measured for community mobilization, preparation, education, vaccination clinic operations, follow up, take evaluations, data analysis, patient tracking, adverse event reporting, and post-vaccination education. Initial estimates indicate the cost per vaccinee was in excess of several thousand dollars. Many of the costs associated with planning and follow up stages could be considered an investment toward subsequent smallpox vaccinations. Conclusions: Local, state and national public health agencies need to more fully assess the financial impacts associated with implementing any mandated initiative like the Pre-Event Smallpox Vaccination Program. Opportunities to identify strategies for cost reduction for similar mandates should be learned from this program.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Immunizations, Cost Issues
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Denver Center for Advanced Public Health Preparedness, Denver Public Health, Denver Health
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.