The 317 Immunization Program needs your help to retain critical funding that helps remove the financial barriers to immunization. 

The 317 Coalition has prepared this helpful information:

The CDC’s 317 Immunization program partners at the local and state levels with public and private healthcare providers to ensure the safe and effective implementation of immunization practices and achieve high coverage, reduce disparities, and support infrastructure for essential immunizations.

The 317 program was funded at $611 million in fiscal year (FY) 2015.  The House of Representatives has proposed to fund the program at $585.5 million in FY 2016, while the Senate maintains level funding at $611 million.  If the program were to be funded at the House’s proposed funding level, the reduction in funding of over $25 million would harm the immunization infrastructure and adult vaccine purchase functions in every state.  Therefore, we strongly encourage you to alert your representatives about the importance of 317 funding, and urge them to support the Senate’s FY 2016 funding level of $611 million. 

What you can do:

1. Contact your representatives in the House and Senate and tell them how important it is that they support the Senate’s proposed funding level of $611 million for the CDC’s 317 immunization program.  You can find your representatives here, or by calling (202) 224-3121.
2. Explore the 317 Coalition’s website to learn more about the 317 program, and this page to learn how much 317 funding your state receives.

Talking points:

• I am contacting you to ask your boss to support the Senate’s funding level of $611 million for the CDC’s 317 immunization program in whatever FY 2016 funding package takes shape.
• Vaccines are one of the greatest success stories in public health and are among the most cost-effective ways to prevent disease.  We know that for each dollar invested in the U.S. childhood immunization program, there are over ten dollars of societal savings and three dollars in direct medical savings.  Moreover, childhood immunizations over the past twenty years have prevented 322 million illnesses, 732,000 deaths, and nearly $1.4 trillion in societal costs.
• 2014 saw the largest number of cases of measles in the U.S. since the disease was eliminated in 2000, with over 644 reported cases across 27 states. CDC estimates that it can cost over $140,000 to contain each individual case of measles.
• The 317 program serves as the key backbone for the national Vaccines for Children program to provide vaccine purchase funding for children, and it also supports the science that informs our national immunization policy, monitors the safety of vaccines and assists community education and outreach activities.
• The 317 program also provides a safety net to uninsured, low-income adults for vaccine purchases.
• The program conducts surveillance, laboratory testing and epidemiology to respond to disease outbreaks.  For example, during the 2015 measles outbreak, 317 funds supported local and state health departments in rapid response, public health communication, data gathering and diagnostics.

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These talking points, position description and action items are courtesy of the 317 Coalition. Please visit www.317coalition.org for more information on the program and ways to get involved.