TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement, and any subsequent amendments, between the City of Long Beach and the State of California Department of Health Services in the amount of $468,326 for the provision of immunization services for the period of July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2017. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Since 1993, the Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) has received funding from the State of California Department of Health Services (State) to supplement local childhood immunization programs and services. The goal of the Health Department’s Immunization Program is to increase the immunization rates of children and to decrease the occurrence of vaccine-preventable diseases in Long Beach. The target objectives are that 90 percent of children in Long Beach will be fully vaccinated with all of the pediatric doses of vaccines recommended by age two, and that at least 95 percent of kindergarten enrollees into public and private schools in Long Beach will be up-to-date upon entry.
On December 10, 2013 the City Council authorized an agreement in the amount of $895,284 for a four-year period of July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2017. This funding was released by the State, on a cost-reimbursement basis. However, the State has now moved to a two-year grant cycle, and utilizes a Request for Proposals (RFP) process to determine the agencies that will receive grant funding. Therefore this two-year agreement in the amount of $468,326 will replace the previous four-year agreement.
Immunization Program Activities
The Health Department will use this new award to continue to provide and coordinate local immunization program activities. These funds will be utilized by the Health Department for the provision of the following services: immunization education for providers, parents and the community; outreach to target populations; supplemental staffing at Health Department immunization clinics; annual pre-school, Head Start and kindergarten immunization records assessments; quality assurance reviews in the Health Department and private non-profit clinics; case management for hepatitis B prevention; outreach and clinic interventions to promote and provide recently developed new vaccines for adults and children; and recall/reminder systems to ensure on-time receipt of immunizations. The Immunization Program also coordinates the annual flu vaccine campaign which conducts clinics to provide flu vaccine to anyone over the age of six months, with special emphasis on reaching those over the age of 60 and those with chronic medical conditions.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda Vu on August 14, 2015 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on August 19, 2015.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on September 8, 2015, as the Health Department has been providing services under this contract since July 1, 2015, but will be unable to recover costs until the agreements are approved. Delays at the State level have kept this amendment from being executed earlier.
FISCAL IMPACT
The agreement amount totals $468,326 for the period of July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2017. Sufficient funds are appropriated in the Health Fund (SR 130) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HE). Subsequent appropriations will be included as part of the annual budget process. No match or in-kind service mandate is required, and there is no local job impact associated with this action.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
KELLY COLOPY
DIRECTOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER