Diane Arsenault | Oppose HB524

I am writing to oppose HB 524.As a retired family doctor, i strongly support unrestricted access to vaccines, both from an individual child's perspective and as a general public health measure. In my early years as a family doctor, I saw children die from vaccine preventable diseases, and I would not wish that sorrow on any parent. The current system of purchasing vaccines, funded by insurance companies. through the New Hampshire Vaccine Association, and distributing them to primary care and pediatric offices in New Hampshire allows all children to have access to appropriate vaccines, There is no cost for the vaccine to the child's parent or legal guardian, other than an administration fee, increasing the likelihood of a vaccinated child leaving an office visit. More vaccinated children increases herd immunity, decreasing the risk of disease to children who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. Passage of this bill would create barriers to ensuring childhood vaccination is available to all children. Copays for parents and the increased work for medical offices of ordering vaccines and billing insurance companies add additional costs for both consumers and providers. For the sake of a healthy population of New Hampshire children, please keep the current effective system of vaccine procurement and distribution in place, by voting against HB 524. Thank you.