Vice President Joe Biden has announced that the Obama Administration will make $2.3 billion available for health and human services programs to provide care for children and prevent disease. According to a press release from the White House, states will receive $2 billion in Recovery Act funding to support child care for working families, and $300 million in vaccines and grants available to assist underserved Americans.

The $300 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding and grants will help purchase vaccines, which will be distributed through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Section 317 immunization program to all 50 states, several large cities, and U.S. territories. The funding will also be used for national public information campaigns regarding vaccines and support grants to states "that demonstrate innovative new ways to ensure more Americans receive the vaccines they need." The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds for the Child Care and Development Fund will allow states to support child care services through vouchers for families whose children require care while they are working, job seeking or in job training or education.

"Vaccines help keep children healthy, prevent costly stays in hospitals, and fight diseases that can lead to serious illness or death," Vice President Biden said. "The Recovery Act will help to vaccinate more Americans, cut health care costs, improve public health, and save lives."

For the Section 317 program, $250 million will help existing grantees acquire and make recommended vaccines available by using $200 million of these funds for CDC-purchased vaccines that will be made available to states and territories. The remaining $50 million will be used for program operation grants and scientific and technical support. Vaccines and Recovery Act resources will be made available to the urban Section 317 programs in Chicago, Houston, New York City, Philadelphia and San Antonio.

Eighteen million dollars in grants will be used to provide support to Section 317 grantees that develop the innovative approaches to increase the number of Americans who receive the childhood vaccine series, zoster vaccine, and influenza vaccine, and for improving reimbursement practices. The communication and education initiatives will include efforts to increase national public awareness and knowledge about the benefits and risks of vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases.

Based on a press release by the White House.

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