The New Hampshire Immunization Information System is a tool used to keep track of all vaccinations a resident has received, not just COVID-19. | stock photo
The New Hampshire Immunization Information System is a tool used to keep track of all vaccinations a resident has received, not just COVID-19. | stock photo
The state’s vaccine registry system will be renovated, thanks to the approval of federal funds last Friday.
Colene Arnold, an ob-gyn in Newington, urged the New Hampshire Senate to accept the federal funding. “New Hampshire Senate, please accept and expend the $22.5 million in federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funding to support New Hampshire’s COVID-19 vaccine program,” she tweeted Nov. 18.
Politicians who are members of New Hampshire’s Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee voted to accept the federal funding to improve the state’s vaccine registry with a contentious 6-4 vote, according to New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR).
NHPR reported that the state will receive $22.5 million to improve its vaccine registry system, which has been hotly debated over the past few months. However, New Hampshire law gives residents the ability to opt out of having their information collected by the registry system.
“These additional resources will support the further implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine program, including booster dose delivery and vaccine for children,” the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services wrote in a letter submitted to lawmakers. “This requires working directly with retail pharmacies and the health care community, instead of state-run vaccine clinics. These funds will expand the existing immunization infrastructure system, support additional partnerships, and implement and evaluate new strategies to reach affected populations.”
The funds are needed to sustain New Hampshire’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts, the Department of Health and Human Services added.
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY
!RECEIVE ALERTS
Alerts Sign-up