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Draft of National Vaccine Plan Released

By Nidhi Bouri, December 15, 2008

On December 4, 2008, HHS released a draft of its national vaccine strategy, a plan intended to guide the federal government in making policy decisions on vaccine development, production, and distribution.¹ HHS aims to finalize the 85-page report, which updates the original 1994 vaccine plan, by late 2009.² Many of the goals outlined in the 1994 report have been achieved; however, the new report indicates that key challenges remain. The report also indicates that “emerging and pandemic infections and bioterrorist threats pose new challenges for vaccine development and regulation, manufacturing, vaccine delivery, and access in the U.S. and abroad.”¹

The plan addresses five broad goals:

1. Develop new and improved vaccines
2. Enhance the safety of vaccines and vaccination practices
3. Support informed vaccine decision making by the public, providers, and policy-makers
4. Ensure a stable supply of recommended vaccines and achieve better use of existing vaccines to prevent disease, disability and death in the United States
5. Increase global prevention of death and disease through safe and effective vaccination.¹

 
While other federal plans address pandemic vaccines and countermeasures for biological attacks, the national vaccine plan identifies the need to “organize, practice, and evaluate mass vaccination activities for disease outbreaks, biological attacks, and pandemic-related scenarios for the workforce and members of the public.”² Additionally, the plan outlines the need to address health problems related to vaccines as well as ensure that adequate supplies of vaccines are maintained.

References

1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Draft Strategic National Vaccine Plan. November 26, 2008. http://www.hhs.gov/nvpo/vacc_plan. Accessed December 14, 2008.
2. Schnirring L. HHS releases draft of national vaccine plan. CIDRAP News. December 4, 2008. http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/general/news/dec0408vaccine-jw.html. Accessed December 14, 2008.