Impact of vaccine financing on vaccinations delivered by health department clinics.
OBJECTIVE
This study measured the number of childhood vaccinations delivered at health department clinics (HDCs) before and after changes in vaccine financing in 1994, and it assessed the impact of changes in financing on HDC operations.


METHODS
We measured the number of vaccination doses administered annually at all 57 HDCs in New York State between 1991 and 1996, before and after the financing changes. Interviews of HDC personnel assessed the impact of financing changes. A secondary study measured trends in Pennsylvania and California.


RESULTS
HDC vaccinations for preschool children in New York State declined slightly prior to the financing changes (6%-8% between 1991 and 1993) but declined markedly thereafter (53%-56% between 1993 and 1996). According to nearly two thirds of New York State's HDCs, the primary cause for this decline was the vaccine-financing changes. HDC vaccinations for preschool children in Pennsylvania declined by 12% between 1991 and 1993 and by 56% between 1993 and 1997. HDC vaccinations for polio-containing vaccines in California declined by 31% between 1993 and 1997.


CONCLUSIONS
Substantially fewer vaccinations have been administered at HDCs since changes in vaccine financing, thereby keeping preschool children in their primary care medical homes.
Szilagyi
P G
PG
Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY, USA. peter_szilagyi@urmc.rochester.edu
Humiston
S G
SG
Shone
L P
LP
Barth
R
R
Kolasa
M S
MS
Rodewald
L E
LE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002140:California; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000191:economics* / Q000639:trends; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008484:Medicaid / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D009518:New York; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010414:Pennsylvania; D015397:Program Evaluation; D015980:Public Health Practice / Q000191:economics*; D014481:United States; D014611:Vaccination / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends