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Ordinance committee approves immunization revolving fund to let board of health retain vaccine reimbursements
Summary
The Ordinance Committee voted unanimously to recommend creation of a revolving fund under MGL ch.44 §53E½ so the Board of Health can retain state vaccine reimbursements and use them for local vaccine purchasing and administration.
The Brockton City Council Ordinance Committee on April 3 voted to recommend favorably an ordinance establishing an immunization revolving fund for the Board of Health under MGL chapter 44, section 53E½. The measure passed at the committee level and will be forwarded to the full City Council.
Councilor Jack Lally, who sponsored the item, described the fund as a way for the Board of Health to "keep the money the state gives them, put it into 1 fund, retain it, and then use that as a way to get more vaccines." Dr. Eno Monocera, director of the Board of Health, called the change "one of the most significant milestones in the history of the health department," adding "I am an authentic witness of the fact that vaccine works."
Dr. Monocera told the committee the fund would allow the city health department to retain state reimbursement and use it to buy and distribute vaccines for seasonal influenza, COVID-19 and other immunizations for people who live and work in Brockton, with a nominal administrative fee. He told the committee that Brockton is classified as having a low vaccine-compliance rate and urged adoption to improve access.
Councilor Fava (spelled in the record as Council Fava) supported a favorable recommendation, saying the expected amounts would not be "a significant amount of money, you know, hundreds of thousands of dollars. But I think it's a very good initiative." The committee voted to report the ordinance favorably to the full City Council.
The ordinance text references MGL chapter 44, section 53E½ (the provision that permits municipal revolving funds tied to specific services) and states the fund will be used to receive reimbursements and pay expenses tied to vaccine administration by the Board of Health. No specific budget appropriation or estimated annual receipts were provided in committee testimony.
The measure now goes to the full City Council for final action.
