The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will provide an additional $100 million for state and local health departments this year to implement smallpox immunization programs, according to a press release yesterday from the Department of Health and Human Services (see GSN, May 1).

“Because a smallpox attack is possible, we must prepare our public health workers to quickly respond to protect the American public,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson.  “This additional money is part of our overall commitment to our state and local partners to build a stronger public health system to care for Americans in the event of any emergency, including a smallpox attack,” he added.

Thompson will send letters to state governors alerting them to the funding available for smallpox immunization, according to the release.

The new funding comes after the Health Department allocated $1.1 billion in public health preparedness funds to states in fiscal 2002 and $1.4 billion in fiscal 2003.

Thompson announced earlier this year that 20 percent of the fiscal 2003 money would be available immediately for public health initiatives, including smallpox immunizations.

The remaining $1.1 billion would be available after states submit work plans and health officials review those plans, according to the release (Health and Human Services release, May 5).

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