What is Section 317 vaccine?
Section 317 of the Public Health Service Act authorizes the federal purchase of vaccines to vaccinate children, adolescents, and adults. Over its 50 year history, Section 317-purchased vaccine has been directed towards meeting the needs of priority populations; most recently this has included underinsured children not eligible for VFC, and uninsured adults.
Who can be vaccinated with Section 317 vaccines?
Beginning on October 1, 2012, Section 317-funded vaccines can be used to vaccinate:
- Newborns receiving the birth dose of hepatitis B prior to hospital discharge that are covered under bundled delivery or global delivery package (no routine services can be individually billed) that does not include hepatitis B vaccine
- Fully Insured infants of hepatitis B infected women and the household or sexual contacts of hepatitis B infected individuals
- Uninsured or underinsured adults
- Underinsured: A person who has health insurance, but the coverage does not include vaccines or a person whose insurance covers only selected vaccines. Children who are underinsured for selected vaccines are VFC-eligible for non-covered vaccines only.
- Fully insured individuals seeking vaccines during public health response activities including:
- Outbreak response
- Post-exposure prophylaxis
- Disaster relief efforts
- Mass vaccination campaigns or exercises for public health preparedness
- Individuals in correctional facilities and jails
Where can you go if you qualify for Section 317 vaccines?
- Underinsured children are eligible to receive VFC vaccine only through a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or a Department of Public Health designated provider.
- Uninsured and underinsured adults are also eligible to receive 317vaccines through a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or Department of Public Health designated provider.
Delaware Section 317 vaccine Providers:
La Red Health Centers
http://www.laredhealthcenter.org/index.cfm?ref=60100
Westside Family Healthcare Centers
http://www.westsidehealth.org/en-US/Locations
Henrietta Johnson Medical Center
The Rosa Health Center