Suzanne Allison

As an almost 50 year voting resident of NH and as a registered nurse with a combined 40 years of experience in community and public heath, all with a focus on maternal and child health, I urge you to OPPOSE HB 524. There is no reason for this bill except to cripple the current, successful, and efficient childhood vaccine distribution process in NH. It is clearly just an anti-vax bill. NH has historically had some of the best childhood vaccine coverage rates in the US and it is, in part, because NH is a “universal vaccine purchase state”. Through a combination of federal funds from the Vaccine For Children (VFC) program and contributions from insurers to the NH Vaccine Association (NHVA), NH is able to purchase all recommended childhood vaccines at a reduced contract rate and distribute them to all NH health care providers who vaccinate children. As a result, ALL childhood vaccines are provided to ALL NH children birth through age 18, at no cost to the family or to the provider. This universal status also streamlines ordering and storing vaccines as well as administering them to any child regardless of insurance. Without the NHVA, health care providers would be burdened with purchasing vaccine at higher market prices, maintaining a separate private stock (in addition to a VFC stock for VFC eligible children), billing insurances, and accepting what is offered. It will cost more for our health care systems (time and money) as well as for families who may have deductibles or other out of pocket expenses, depending on coverage. There is NO REASON to dismantle a successful and cost-effective system of providing vaccines to all NH families who desire it. There is no vaccine “mandate” or requirement, just an efficient and cost saving way of delivering preventative health care. Please use common sense and OPPOSE this ridiculous anti-vax bill that will only cost Granite Staters money and possibly decrease vaccine coverage rates – which then puts not only the unvaccinated child at risk, but also their family members, their school and child care communities, and the community at large at increased risk of vaccine preventable diseases or disease outbreaks. Thank you for the opportunity to voice my opinion on this online platform as I am unable to be in Concord to speak to the committee in person. Suzanne Allison