Through several presentations, the workshop examined various aspects of the financing and delivery of immunization services in Texas.

Sharilyn Stanley, associate commissioner for disease control and prevention at the Texas Department of Health, reviewed trends in public funding for immunization activities in Texas and some of the challenges facing the state. For 2001, the immunization program budget amounted to $151.8 million (Figure 2). Federal funds make up 76 percent of this amount (VFC funds make up 53 percent and Section 317 program funds make up 23 percent). State funds from general revenue and other sources account for the remaining 24 percent. During the previous 2 years, the program received small amounts of funding from the state’s tobacco settlement.

Of the total, $121.1 million was for vaccine purchase and distribution and $30.7 million was for infrastructure activities. Steady increases in funding for vaccine purchase have occurred since 1993 (Figure 3). The total declined slightly for 2000 because of the withdrawal of the rotavirus vaccine. The newly required pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, however, added $30 million in vaccine purchase costs for the state. State funds are used to purchase vaccines for adults and for children not eligible for VFC