Alaska to cut back on 2 free vaccines to schoolchildren

[Dutchy]

Alaska to cut back on 2 free vaccines to schoolchildren

The Associated Press

Published Friday, November 7, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The state of Alaska next year will not be offering two free vaccinations to all Alaska schoolchildren.

Starting Jan. 1, two of the newest and most expensive vaccines will only be offered free to low-income and uninsured Alaskans, or to Alaska Natives and American Indian children.

The vaccines are to prevent cervical cancer in girls and to prevent meningitis in both boys and girls.

Laurel Wood, manager of the Alaska Immunization Program, says federal funding for the state's universal immunization program has failed to keep pace with the costs and rising numbers of recommended vaccines.

Wood says for that reason, the state will cut back on the two vaccines, which are part of more than a dozen the state currently distributes at no cost to Alaska health care providers.

http://newsminer.com/news/2008/nov/0...choolchildren/