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Norwalk health staff propose raising yellow fever vaccine fee; board requests detailed review and special meeting
Summary
Officials told the board that the yellow fever vaccine purchase price rose to $242 from a $225 charged fee and proposed increasing the public fee to $295; members asked staff to circulate costing spreadsheets and consider hiring a billing consultant and a resident/nonresident fee structure.
Diana D'Amore told the Board of Health that vaccine purchase prices have risen and that staff needed guidance on whether to raise fees for travel immunizations. She said the department currently charges $225 for the yellow fever vaccine while the purchase cost has reached $242, and staff proposed increasing the fee to $295 to cover program costs.
"Our fee currently for the yellow fever vaccine, we charge $225, but the cost now is $242," D'Amore said, adding that the proposed fee would help cover program costs beyond the vaccine purchase price. She noted that other providers charge a range of prices—some quoted in the discussion as roughly $293, $287, and some private providers over $400.
Why it matters: the department is reassessing revenues for travel‑vaccine services after the end of prior state support for a clinical program. Board members raised two operational considerations: whether to bill insurance for travel vaccines and whether to set different fees for Norwalk residents and nonresidents. One board member stressed the importance of city leaders' input on resident benefits tied to taxes.
Board members agreed they wanted more information before a vote. Staff said they would circulate complete materials, including administrative‑cost spreadsheets, and consider bringing a billing consultant to advise on insurance contracting and revenue implications. The board indicated willingness to meet for a short special meeting in a few weeks to vote if the materials are provided in advance.
D'Amore said staff would invite Carla (staff member working on administrative fees) to the next meeting to present cost calculations and will coordinate with the mayor’s office about larger structural questions such as resident versus nonresident fees.
