Ensuring Access to Vaccines Without Financial Barriers: View of Consumers

Abstract

Reforming the US vaccine-financing system is a promising means of increasing vaccine coverage among US children; however, it is a significant undertaking that calls for creativity and cooperation by a diverse group of stakeholders. In this commentary, we present a consumer's viewpoint on the vaccine-financing recommendations of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC). Because immunization benefits the community at least as much as it benefits the individual, the choice to vaccinate shows good faith in the social contract. It should be met with respect and accommodation. To accommodate fully parents' willingness to have their children vaccinated, we must dismantle financial barriers between consumers and childhood immunization. These barriers include copayments, payments toward deductibles, requests for parents to pay administrative fees for vaccines provided under the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, the need for parents to take time off work … Address correspondence to Amy Pisani, MS, Every Child By Two, 1100 G St NW, Suite 202, Washington, DC 20005. E-mail: amyp{at}ecbt.org