Public health director outlines immunization services expansion, revenue from travel vaccines

A county public health representative told commissioners the department is expanding travel immunization services — including yellow fever, rabies pre-exposure, typhoid and Japanese encephalitis — and expects those services to generate revenue because some travel vaccines (for example, yellow fever and rabies pre-exposure) can be charged to patients.

The presenter reported recent price increases for several vaccines and provided a price example for a human rabies vaccination series, saying the dose cost had risen substantially in recent months. The department said it charges an administration fee and has discretion to set clinic fees for travel immunizations and other services, noting some vaccines (for children through VFC) remain available to uninsured patients.

Staff described outreach plans including free rapid HIV testing at Pride events and home-testing kits distribution, and said they provide immunizations for underinsured or uninsured children through state programs. The public health speaker said the department is reviewing whether certain maternal-child home visits can be billed to insurance consistent with statute and county counsel advice to increase revenue for home-visit services.

Commissioners asked about vaccine supply and whether the department could cover increased demand for MMR and pertussis vaccines; staff said they were keeping stock and had seen an increase in adult MMR and titers. The presentation included a request for minor budget lines to expand travel vaccine services and to continue immunization outreach; commissioners did not take formal action during the presentation.