• Doctor or nurse gives flu vaccine to patient at clinic.

    Developing the 2020 National Vaccine Plan

    A comprehensive 2020 Vaccines National Strategic Plan (VNSP) is more important now than ever before. As our nation prepares for upcoming COVID-19 vaccines, we know that issues of equitable distribution and access for all–particularly for the populations most at risk– are critical in determining the pace and success of the nation’s recovery. Allocation, distribution, access, and utilization of the COVID-19 vaccine will likely be the greatest public health effort of our generation. And while this effort will present significant challenges, it also brings a new opportunity to expand the strength of existing immunization program infrastructure in the United States.

    Blogs Benefits of Immunization
  • AVAC Responds to Request for Information on the Vaccines National Strategic Plan Draft

    December 3, 2020   David Kim, M.D.   Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy    Department of Health and Human Services200 Independence Ave. SW  Washington, DC  20201   RE: Request for Information (RFI): Vaccines National Strategic Plan Draft Available for Public Comment   Dear Dr. Kim,  As participants in the Adult Vaccine Access Coalition (AVAC), we appreciate the opportunity to comment […]

    Letters to Administration Benefits of Immunization
  • Coronavirus Virus

    COVID-19 Vaccine Success Depends on Equitable Distribution for All

    The nation is about to overcome a major hurdle in the battle against COVID-19: development of an effective vaccine. The next essential step is ensuring that those who need the vaccine most can access and afford it. AVAC is committed to the equitable allocation, distribution, access, and utilization of a future COVID-19 vaccine.

    Blogs COVID-19 Response
  • AVAC Strongly Supports the Helping Adults Protect Immunity (HAPI) Act

    November 10, 2020 Dear Senator Sherrod Brown and Representative Darren Soto, We write to express our strong support for the Helping Adults Protect Immunity (HAPI) Act. We appreciate your bi-cameral leadership to strengthen access to immunizations under Medicaid. Medicaid, along with the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a federal-state insurance partnership that provides coverage […]

    Letters to Congress Reducing Financial Barriers
  • AVAC Joins Stakeholders in Letter to Congress About Preparing for COVID-19 Vaccine

    October 22, 2020 Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Speaker Pelosi, and Minority Leaders Schumer and McCarthy: As the nation continues to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative that the federal government, in coordination with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as public health, primary care physicians, pharmacists, and other health care providers […]

    Letters to Congress Appropriations/Funding for Immunization
  • AVAC Leads Stakeholder Letter on Equitable COVID Vaccine Distribution

    Dear Secretary Azar, ADM Giroir, Director Redfield, Commissioner Hahn, and Chief Advisor Slaoui:   As the nation plans for the upcoming allocation, distribution, and administration of a new COVID-19 pandemic vaccine, we write to emphasize that the success of that plan will be judged by how well it ensures equitable access for all. While continued efforts on testing […]

    Letters to Administration COVID-19 Response
  • AVAC Successfully Advocates for Prenatal Immunization Measure in HHS Report

    The Child and Adult Core Sets of quality measures for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are key indicators of the access to—and quality of—the health care Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries receive. The Core Sets are important tools states can use to monitor and improve the quality of health care provided to Medicaid […]

    Reports Quality Measures
  • AVAC is Pleased to Support the Community Immunity During COVID-19 Act

    August 17, 2020 Press Release The Community Immunity During COVID-19 Act responds to an alarming decline in immunization rates for life-saving vaccines WASHINGTON— Today, Representatives Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), Kathy Castor (FL-14), and Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02) introduced new legislation to reverse the dangerous decrease in vaccination rates, which have plummeted during […]

    Press Releases COVID-19 Response
  • AVAC Manager Abby Bownas Discusses Adult Vaccine Access in Avalere Podcast

    You can read a transcript of the discussion below or listen to the podcast here. Transcription Richard: Hello and welcome to another episode of Avalere Health Essential Voice in our Start Your Day with Avalere Health podcast series. My name is Richard Hughes and I lead our vaccines team at Avalere. I am joined today […]

    Reports COVID-19 Response
  • Coronavirus Virus

    Immunizing in a COVID-19 Environment: Best Practices

    AVAC hosted the second briefing in a series on “Immunizing in a COVID-19 Environment.” The briefing featured a discussion on best practices for immunizing in the adult population, ways to vaccinate safely during an emergency pandemic, and legislative steps that can be taken now to prepare for the upcoming flu season and future COVID-19 vaccine.

    Blogs Benefits of Immunization
  • AVAC Spotlight: Dr. Ruth Carrico, University of Louisville’s School of Medicine

    At AVAC’s June briefing, Dr. Ruth Carrico, an infectious disease professor and nurse practitioner from the University of Louisville’s School of Medicine, shared her long-standing success with drive-through influenza vaccination programs, and how they can be replicated in a COVID-19 environment to increase immunization rates.

    Blogs Benefits of Immunization
  • AVAC Spotlight: Laura Lee Hall, PhD, Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity (SHC)

    Dr. Laura Lee Hall, President of the Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity (SHC) at the National Minority Quality Forum, spoke at AVAC’s June briefing about the importance of targeting resources to communities of color in order to increase flu immunization rates. particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Blogs COVID-19 Response