New Report Analyzes the Impact of Health Reform on U.S. Vaccine Policy and Practice
A new report issued by the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services and funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services analyzes the impact of Affordable Care Act on national immunization policy. The report examines a wide range of reforms that are aimed at strengthening immunization policy and practice.
"Our analysis shows the extent to which immunization policy reform has emerged as a key component of health reform," notes Alexandra M. Stewart, JD, assistant professor of health policy and lead author of the report.
Sara Rosenbaum, JD, the Hirsch Professor of Health Law & Policy and senior author of the report, adds, "The implications of the Affordable Care Act for access to and improvements in the timeliness and quality of immunization practice are far-reaching for the entire population."
The report identifies numerous provisions of the Affordable Care Act that will affect insurance coverage and affordability, access to immunization services, and the level of national investment in community prevention, wellness and primary care.
The report, "The Affordable Care Act: U.S. Vaccine Policy and Practice," can be accessed at: http://www.gwumc.edu/sphhs/departments/healthpolicy/careact/
Beyond the Surface: Rethinking Environmental Hygiene Validation at Exchange25
June 30th 2025Environmental hygiene is about more than just shiny surfaces. At Exchange25, infection prevention experts urged the field to look deeper, rethink blame, and validate cleaning efforts across the entire care environment, not just EVS tasks.
A Controversial Reboot: New Vaccine Panel Faces Scrutiny, Support, and Sharp Divides
June 26th 2025As the newly appointed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met for the first time under sweeping changes by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the national spotlight turned to the panel’s legitimacy, vaccine guidance, and whether science or ideology would steer public health policy in a polarized era.
Getting Down and Dirty With PPE: Presentations at HSPA by Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski
June 26th 2025In the heart of the hospital, decontamination technicians tackle one of health care’s dirtiest—and most vital—jobs. At HSPA 2025, 6 packed workshops led by experts Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski spotlighted the crucial, often-overlooked art of PPE removal. The message was clear: proper doffing saves lives, starting with your own.
