Money for Vaccinating Children Is Diverted, Officials Say

[Guest guest]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/16/health/16flu.html

December 16, 2004

Money for Vaccinating Children Is Diverted, Officials Say

By GARDINER HARRIS

The federal government is using money that was intended for vaccinating

children to pay for experimental flu vaccines for adults, federal health

officials said yesterday.

But some state health officials say that protecting adults at the expense of

children is wrong.

" We should not be pitting vaccines for children against vaccines for

adults, " said Selecky, the secretary of health in Washington State.

Federal officials say the experimental flu vaccines are needed in case flu

infections this season soar. They say using money intended for childhood

immunization is appropriate while other money - including a $100 million

appropriation this year to plan for major flu outbreaks - cannot be used.

The secretary of health and human services, Tommy G. , announced on

Dec. 7 that the government had agreed to buy 1.2 million doses of flu

vaccines made by GlaxoKline at a plant in Germany that had not

previously received approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

Mr. said that an inspection by the agency had concluded that the

vaccines were safe. But since GlaxoKline has not received formal F.D.A.

approval for the vaccines, they must be distributed as experimental

medicines. Recipients would have to sign consent forms to get the shots.

Some will also have to pay special fees.

Similar purchases for millions more doses could be in the offing, Mr.

said.

To pay for these vaccines, the government will dip into a $220 million grant

program intended to help provide routine vaccinations to children who are

not poor enough to be eligible under state Medicaid programs, federal

officials said. Money for such vaccinations is already so scarce that 19

states have decided not to provide all the recommended vaccines to children

who are unable to pay for vaccinations.

One of those 19 states is Nebraska, whose chief medical officer, Dr.

, said that if the federal government cut financing for the

children's vaccine program to pay for experimental flu vaccines, his state

might vaccinate fewer children. Under the government's plan, money will be

deducted from childhood immunization programs to pay for the experimental

flu vaccine, even in states that do not receive the experimental doses.

In Rhode Island, which does not plan to ask for the vaccine, that could

threaten a fragile system for delivering other vaccines to children, said

Dr. Nolan, director of the Rhode Island Department of Health.

Every child in Rhode Island gets free vaccines under an agreement in which

insurers pay into the system as long as both the state and federal

governments contribute as well. If the federal government reneges, Dr. Nolan

said, she is afraid that the pact will fall apart.

Ms. Selecky and health officials in Ohio and Nebraska also said that they

had no plans to buy the experimental doses, despite tight supplies in some

cases.

The state officials said their reasons for not taking the flu vaccine

included the difficulty of persuading people to get vaccinated late in the

season and fear of the unknown.

" ly, our assessment here is that people will be afraid of it, " Dr.

Nolan said.

The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials said it would send

a letter today to Mr. , the health secretary, protesting the

government's financing arrangement. The American Medical Association, the

American Academy of Family Physicians and 17 other major medical societies

have also signed the letter.

Dr. L. Gerberding, administrator of the federal Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, plans to hold a news conference today to announce

the results of a survey that found that many of those at highest risk for

flu have not yet been vaccinated, even though vaccine supplies are

available. She is also expected to announce that this year's flu season has

been mild so far, said Tom Skinner, a spokesman.

The government's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is expected to

vote on Friday to expand the pool of people for whom vaccinations are

recommended to ensure that vaccine doses are not wasted. " We don't want

vaccines to go unused this year, " Mr. Skinner said. The centers will hire

L.H.I., a contract research company, to distribute the GlaxoKline

doses, Mr. Skinner said. In addition to signing a consent form, people who

get the experimental doses will have to pay a fee of $18 to $25. Medicare

recipients will be reimbursed by Medicare, Mr. Skinner said.

That fee will be charged over and above the government's expense for buying

the doses, which initially will total $8 million to $10 million. If the

government buys 2.8 million more doses from GlaxoKline, as officials

have indicated, the costs will rise to $30 million. Even more experimental

doses may be purchased, Mr. said at a news conference last week.

[Guest guest]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/16/health/16flu.html

December 16, 2004

Money for Vaccinating Children Is Diverted, Officials Say

By GARDINER HARRIS

The federal government is using money that was intended for vaccinating

children to pay for experimental flu vaccines for adults, federal health

officials said yesterday.

But some state health officials say that protecting adults at the expense of

children is wrong.

" We should not be pitting vaccines for children against vaccines for

adults, " said Selecky, the secretary of health in Washington State.

Federal officials say the experimental flu vaccines are needed in case flu

infections this season soar. They say using money intended for childhood

immunization is appropriate while other money - including a $100 million

appropriation this year to plan for major flu outbreaks - cannot be used.

The secretary of health and human services, Tommy G. , announced on

Dec. 7 that the government had agreed to buy 1.2 million doses of flu

vaccines made by GlaxoKline at a plant in Germany that had not

previously received approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

Mr. said that an inspection by the agency had concluded that the

vaccines were safe. But since GlaxoKline has not received formal F.D.A.

approval for the vaccines, they must be distributed as experimental

medicines. Recipients would have to sign consent forms to get the shots.

Some will also have to pay special fees.

Similar purchases for millions more doses could be in the offing, Mr.

said.

To pay for these vaccines, the government will dip into a $220 million grant

program intended to help provide routine vaccinations to children who are

not poor enough to be eligible under state Medicaid programs, federal

officials said. Money for such vaccinations is already so scarce that 19

states have decided not to provide all the recommended vaccines to children

who are unable to pay for vaccinations.

One of those 19 states is Nebraska, whose chief medical officer, Dr.

, said that if the federal government cut financing for the

children's vaccine program to pay for experimental flu vaccines, his state

might vaccinate fewer children. Under the government's plan, money will be

deducted from childhood immunization programs to pay for the experimental

flu vaccine, even in states that do not receive the experimental doses.

In Rhode Island, which does not plan to ask for the vaccine, that could

threaten a fragile system for delivering other vaccines to children, said

Dr. Nolan, director of the Rhode Island Department of Health.

Every child in Rhode Island gets free vaccines under an agreement in which

insurers pay into the system as long as both the state and federal

governments contribute as well. If the federal government reneges, Dr. Nolan

said, she is afraid that the pact will fall apart.

Ms. Selecky and health officials in Ohio and Nebraska also said that they

had no plans to buy the experimental doses, despite tight supplies in some

cases.

The state officials said their reasons for not taking the flu vaccine

included the difficulty of persuading people to get vaccinated late in the

season and fear of the unknown.

" ly, our assessment here is that people will be afraid of it, " Dr.

Nolan said.

The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials said it would send

a letter today to Mr. , the health secretary, protesting the

government's financing arrangement. The American Medical Association, the

American Academy of Family Physicians and 17 other major medical societies

have also signed the letter.

Dr. L. Gerberding, administrator of the federal Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, plans to hold a news conference today to announce

the results of a survey that found that many of those at highest risk for

flu have not yet been vaccinated, even though vaccine supplies are

available. She is also expected to announce that this year's flu season has

been mild so far, said Tom Skinner, a spokesman.

The government's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is expected to

vote on Friday to expand the pool of people for whom vaccinations are

recommended to ensure that vaccine doses are not wasted. " We don't want

vaccines to go unused this year, " Mr. Skinner said. The centers will hire

L.H.I., a contract research company, to distribute the GlaxoKline

doses, Mr. Skinner said. In addition to signing a consent form, people who

get the experimental doses will have to pay a fee of $18 to $25. Medicare

recipients will be reimbursed by Medicare, Mr. Skinner said.

That fee will be charged over and above the government's expense for buying

the doses, which initially will total $8 million to $10 million. If the

government buys 2.8 million more doses from GlaxoKline, as officials

have indicated, the costs will rise to $30 million. Even more experimental

doses may be purchased, Mr. said at a news conference last week.

[Guest guest]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/16/health/16flu.html

December 16, 2004

Money for Vaccinating Children Is Diverted, Officials Say

By GARDINER HARRIS

The federal government is using money that was intended for vaccinating

children to pay for experimental flu vaccines for adults, federal health

officials said yesterday.

But some state health officials say that protecting adults at the expense of

children is wrong.

" We should not be pitting vaccines for children against vaccines for

adults, " said Selecky, the secretary of health in Washington State.

Federal officials say the experimental flu vaccines are needed in case flu

infections this season soar. They say using money intended for childhood

immunization is appropriate while other money - including a $100 million

appropriation this year to plan for major flu outbreaks - cannot be used.

The secretary of health and human services, Tommy G. , announced on

Dec. 7 that the government had agreed to buy 1.2 million doses of flu

vaccines made by GlaxoKline at a plant in Germany that had not

previously received approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

Mr. said that an inspection by the agency had concluded that the

vaccines were safe. But since GlaxoKline has not received formal F.D.A.

approval for the vaccines, they must be distributed as experimental

medicines. Recipients would have to sign consent forms to get the shots.

Some will also have to pay special fees.

Similar purchases for millions more doses could be in the offing, Mr.

said.

To pay for these vaccines, the government will dip into a $220 million grant

program intended to help provide routine vaccinations to children who are

not poor enough to be eligible under state Medicaid programs, federal

officials said. Money for such vaccinations is already so scarce that 19

states have decided not to provide all the recommended vaccines to children

who are unable to pay for vaccinations.

One of those 19 states is Nebraska, whose chief medical officer, Dr.

, said that if the federal government cut financing for the

children's vaccine program to pay for experimental flu vaccines, his state

might vaccinate fewer children. Under the government's plan, money will be

deducted from childhood immunization programs to pay for the experimental

flu vaccine, even in states that do not receive the experimental doses.

In Rhode Island, which does not plan to ask for the vaccine, that could

threaten a fragile system for delivering other vaccines to children, said

Dr. Nolan, director of the Rhode Island Department of Health.

Every child in Rhode Island gets free vaccines under an agreement in which

insurers pay into the system as long as both the state and federal

governments contribute as well. If the federal government reneges, Dr. Nolan

said, she is afraid that the pact will fall apart.

Ms. Selecky and health officials in Ohio and Nebraska also said that they

had no plans to buy the experimental doses, despite tight supplies in some

cases.

The state officials said their reasons for not taking the flu vaccine

included the difficulty of persuading people to get vaccinated late in the

season and fear of the unknown.

" ly, our assessment here is that people will be afraid of it, " Dr.

Nolan said.

The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials said it would send

a letter today to Mr. , the health secretary, protesting the

government's financing arrangement. The American Medical Association, the

American Academy of Family Physicians and 17 other major medical societies

have also signed the letter.

Dr. L. Gerberding, administrator of the federal Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, plans to hold a news conference today to announce

the results of a survey that found that many of those at highest risk for

flu have not yet been vaccinated, even though vaccine supplies are

available. She is also expected to announce that this year's flu season has

been mild so far, said Tom Skinner, a spokesman.

The government's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is expected to

vote on Friday to expand the pool of people for whom vaccinations are

recommended to ensure that vaccine doses are not wasted. " We don't want

vaccines to go unused this year, " Mr. Skinner said. The centers will hire

L.H.I., a contract research company, to distribute the GlaxoKline

doses, Mr. Skinner said. In addition to signing a consent form, people who

get the experimental doses will have to pay a fee of $18 to $25. Medicare

recipients will be reimbursed by Medicare, Mr. Skinner said.

That fee will be charged over and above the government's expense for buying

the doses, which initially will total $8 million to $10 million. If the

government buys 2.8 million more doses from GlaxoKline, as officials

have indicated, the costs will rise to $30 million. Even more experimental

doses may be purchased, Mr. said at a news conference last week.

[Guest guest]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/16/health/16flu.html

December 16, 2004

Money for Vaccinating Children Is Diverted, Officials Say

By GARDINER HARRIS

The federal government is using money that was intended for vaccinating

children to pay for experimental flu vaccines for adults, federal health

officials said yesterday.

But some state health officials say that protecting adults at the expense of

children is wrong.

" We should not be pitting vaccines for children against vaccines for

adults, " said Selecky, the secretary of health in Washington State.

Federal officials say the experimental flu vaccines are needed in case flu

infections this season soar. They say using money intended for childhood

immunization is appropriate while other money - including a $100 million

appropriation this year to plan for major flu outbreaks - cannot be used.

The secretary of health and human services, Tommy G. , announced on

Dec. 7 that the government had agreed to buy 1.2 million doses of flu

vaccines made by GlaxoKline at a plant in Germany that had not

previously received approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

Mr. said that an inspection by the agency had concluded that the

vaccines were safe. But since GlaxoKline has not received formal F.D.A.

approval for the vaccines, they must be distributed as experimental

medicines. Recipients would have to sign consent forms to get the shots.

Some will also have to pay special fees.

Similar purchases for millions more doses could be in the offing, Mr.

said.

To pay for these vaccines, the government will dip into a $220 million grant

program intended to help provide routine vaccinations to children who are

not poor enough to be eligible under state Medicaid programs, federal

officials said. Money for such vaccinations is already so scarce that 19

states have decided not to provide all the recommended vaccines to children

who are unable to pay for vaccinations.

One of those 19 states is Nebraska, whose chief medical officer, Dr.

, said that if the federal government cut financing for the

children's vaccine program to pay for experimental flu vaccines, his state

might vaccinate fewer children. Under the government's plan, money will be

deducted from childhood immunization programs to pay for the experimental

flu vaccine, even in states that do not receive the experimental doses.

In Rhode Island, which does not plan to ask for the vaccine, that could

threaten a fragile system for delivering other vaccines to children, said

Dr. Nolan, director of the Rhode Island Department of Health.

Every child in Rhode Island gets free vaccines under an agreement in which

insurers pay into the system as long as both the state and federal

governments contribute as well. If the federal government reneges, Dr. Nolan

said, she is afraid that the pact will fall apart.

Ms. Selecky and health officials in Ohio and Nebraska also said that they

had no plans to buy the experimental doses, despite tight supplies in some

cases.

The state officials said their reasons for not taking the flu vaccine

included the difficulty of persuading people to get vaccinated late in the

season and fear of the unknown.

" ly, our assessment here is that people will be afraid of it, " Dr.

Nolan said.

The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials said it would send

a letter today to Mr. , the health secretary, protesting the

government's financing arrangement. The American Medical Association, the

American Academy of Family Physicians and 17 other major medical societies

have also signed the letter.

Dr. L. Gerberding, administrator of the federal Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, plans to hold a news conference today to announce

the results of a survey that found that many of those at highest risk for

flu have not yet been vaccinated, even though vaccine supplies are

available. She is also expected to announce that this year's flu season has

been mild so far, said Tom Skinner, a spokesman.

The government's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is expected to

vote on Friday to expand the pool of people for whom vaccinations are

recommended to ensure that vaccine doses are not wasted. " We don't want

vaccines to go unused this year, " Mr. Skinner said. The centers will hire

L.H.I., a contract research company, to distribute the GlaxoKline

doses, Mr. Skinner said. In addition to signing a consent form, people who

get the experimental doses will have to pay a fee of $18 to $25. Medicare

recipients will be reimbursed by Medicare, Mr. Skinner said.

That fee will be charged over and above the government's expense for buying

the doses, which initially will total $8 million to $10 million. If the

government buys 2.8 million more doses from GlaxoKline, as officials

have indicated, the costs will rise to $30 million. Even more experimental

doses may be purchased, Mr. said at a news conference last week.