The regulations in this subpart apply to the award of grants under section 317 of the Act for programs to immunize children against vaccine preventable diseases.

As used in this subpart:

Childhood immunization program means a preventive health service program to immunize children against vaccine preventable diseases including poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus.

An applicant must be a State agency or an agency of a political subdivision of a State which has legal responsibility for disease control under the laws of a State.

(a) The initial application must cover the project period, and must include a description of the following:

(1) The need for grant support.

(2) The immediate (1 year budget period) and long-range (2-5 year project period) objectives of the project in specific and measurable terms.

(3) Current immunization programs and the additional or intensified activities to be carried out to meet the objectives and priorities.

(4) The following program elements should be included and described:

(i) A plan to assure that children begin and complete their immunizations on schedule, including the use of a standard immunization record card, a provider-based tickler system (public and private) for the recall of children, and a hospital-based immunization education program for new mothers.

(ii) Assessment of immunization status of school enterers, children attending licensed day-care centers, and children under 2 years of age and new enrollees under age 5 served in public clinics.

(iii) A plan for surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases that includes morbidity and mortality reporting as well as field and laboratory investigations.

(iv) Procedures for prompt review of the data collected from the morbidity surveillance system to allow for immediate response to all occurrence of suspected diphtheria and polio cases upon notification and response to suspected measles cases within 48 hours.

(v) A system for monitoring vaccine-associated reactions including a mechanism for responding to persons with vaccine-related complaints.

(vi) A plan to systematically immunize susceptible children at school entry through vigorous enforcement of school immunization laws.

(5) The manner in which the applicant intends to evaluate the project.

(b) An application for a continuation grant must be submitted for each funding period. This continuation application must include the following:

(1) A budget and justification for the grant funds requested.

(2) A summary of the progress achieved during the previous budget period.

(3) A description of any changes in the information shown in the project application.

(a) Within the limits of funds available, the Secretary may award a grant to assist in meeting part of the cost of a childhood immunization program. Grants will be awarded to those applicants whose projects he determines will best promote the purposes of section 317 of the Act. Before awarding a grant to a local public entity of a State, the Secretary will consult with the State health authority.

(b) Priorities for funding will be based on the following factors:

(1) The relative extent of the problems which are caused by one or more of the vaccine preventable diseases in the area served by the applicant.

(2) The extent to which the proposed program is designed to eliminate or reduce the problems.

(3) The extent to which the proposed program will increase the immunization rates in population groups identified as having the lowest immunity levels.

(4) The extent to which the grantee will cooperate with and use public and nonprofit private entities and volunteers.

(5) The extent to which a strong commitment to the objectives of the program is reflected in the commitment of grantee resources to the program.

Grant funds awarded under this subpart may be used to purchase supplies, materials, and equipment for childhood immunization programs. Grant funds also may be used to pay for salaries or wages and related expenses for personnel directly involved in the planning, organization, promotion, epidemiology, surveillance, and other program activities.