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Lawmakers press CDPH on $39 million MyCA Vax funding gap; IT projects seek ongoing support
Summary
Committee members and public-health groups urged the Legislature and administration to fill a projected roughly $39 million shortfall for the California Vaccine Management System (MyCA VAX) and to preserve digital vaccine, surveillance and case investigation platforms proposed for funding in the governor’s budget.
Legislators at the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health challenged the administration on plans for continuing the California Vaccine Management System (MyCA VAX) after the governor's budget omitted ongoing maintenance funding for the platform beyond June.
CDPH and Department of Finance officials told the panel that the state has identified about $5 million in federal funding for 2026–27 but that approximately $39 million remains unfunded for ongoing operations. "It is not enough," a CDPH official said when asked whether the $5 million would cover the expected gap. Committee members pushed the administration for a concrete plan beyond contingent federal matches.
Why it matters: MyCA VAX and the broader Vaccine Management System support ordering, distribution, clinic administration (MyTurn), the California Immunization Registry (CAIR/CARE), and public digital vaccine records. Local health departments and hospital systems testified that losing or pausing that platform would force a return to manual processes, increasing administrative burden and risking disruptions to vaccine access and distribution.
IT requests in the governor’s budget: CDPH outlined four related information-technology proposals to the subcommittee: - CalConnect: CDPH requested $18 million in state general fund for 2025–26 for maintenance and operations of CalConnect, the case-investigation and contact-tracing suite, with remaining M&O costs proposed on federal funds. - SAFIRE (surveillance intake): CDPH requested 15 positions and roughly $27 million in general fund for 2025–26, with phased M&O costs in subsequent years, to support the laboratory and report intake system that feeds downstream disease-monitoring tools. - California Immunization Registry (CARE) project: CDPH requested $5.1 million in state general fund in 2025–26 with additional project funding expected from federal matching funds. - IT capital planning staff transfer: a $381,000 ongoing transfer to the California Health and Human Services Agency to continue two positions supporting IT portfolio planning.
Local and sector reaction: Local health officials and associations urged that MyCA VAX be fully funded. Jack Anderson of the County Health Executives Association of California told the committee that small jurisdictions rely on the system to avoid time-consuming spreadsheets and phone chains; one small jurisdiction reported needing 17 minutes each day to open a spreadsheet to track vaccines prior to the system. Kat DeBerg of the Health Officers Association said a large jurisdiction estimated that MyCA VAX saved hundreds of staff hours a year. Hospitals, public labs and county associations all urged continuation of the system.
Committee concerns and next steps: Members said relying chiefly on potential federal matches — particularly against a backdrop of uncertain federal policy — is insufficient. The Legislative Analyst's Office told the committee the IT programs merit further legislative fiscal oversight. CDPH and Department of Finance said they will keep assessing funding options, including Medicaid matches and other federal sources, and will brief the Legislature further.
Public comment during the IT panel echoed the urgency: local health directors, lab directors and hospital associations warned about disrupting vaccine ordering, distribution and clinic throughput if MyCA VAX funding is not secured.
