NU51PS005144

Integrated Viral Hepatitis Surveillance and Prevention Funding for Health Departments - Introduction - The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has a longstanding history of collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other funders to provide viral hepatitis (VH) programming in the state of Colorado. Nationally, there is a renewed movement encouraging strategies that ensure effective, comprehensive surveillance of VH, as well as plans for the virtual elimination of VH in the most-impacted communities.

Problem Statements - Hepatitis A (HAV) and Hepatitis B (HBV) are fully preventable infections thanks to the advent of effective vaccinations. Hepatitis C (HCV) is treatable and curable via direct-acting antiviral (DAA) medications. While the aforementioned resources exist, HAV, HBV, and HCV continue to disproportionately affect priority populations in Colorado, including communities affected by other conditions and comorbidities, people of low socioeconomic status, people experiencing homelessness, people who are stigmatized and discriminated against due to substance use and mental health issues, people who have limited access to primary and specialty healthcare, and people dually impacted by VH and the opioid crisis.

Components - Enhancement of outbreak and surveillance activities: Currently, CDPHE has limited resources to devote to outbreak monitoring/mitigation and consistent surveillance activities for VH. The provision of funding from PS21-2103 will allow CDPHE the opportunity to bolster long-term surveillance and case investigation staffing to address this unmet need. Furthermore, a comprehensive outbreak monitoring and mitigation plan will be able to be developed and implemented.

Enhancement of core VH prevention activities: CDPHE plans to increase the availability of VH testing and vaccination programs for priority populations and create more seamless connections between community-based organizations and primary/specialty care clinics providing curative treatment for HCV.

Enhancement of VH activities for people who inject drugs (PWID): CDPHE plans to enhance and increase access to syringe services programs (SSP) for PWID throughout Colorado and provide mechanisms and engage in collaborative activities that promote comprehensive whole-person health programs within SSPs.

Anticipated Results - Enhancement of outbreak and surveillance activities: The anticipated results of this funded component will include more accurate and timely surveillance of VH and more rapid response and mitigation of emerging outbreaks of VH in the state of Colorado.

Enhancement of core VH prevention activities: The anticipated results of this funded component will include increased access to VH testing and prevention programming, increased vaccination efforts for HAV and HBV, and increased access to curative treatment for HCV.

Enhancement of VH activities for PWID: The anticipated results of this funded component will include increased knowledge of VH status among PWID, increased access to prevention programming for PWID, and increased access to vaccinations for HAV and HBV and curative treatment for HCV for PWID.

Conclusion - As stated above, implementing programming with funding from PS21-2103 will afford CDPHE the opportunity to address primary prevention needs for people at risk of contracting or transmitting VH and move the state of Colorado closer to true elimination of VH.

Colorado Department Of Public Health And Environment

NOT APPLICABLE

93.268 - Immunization Cooperative Agreements

CDC Office of Financial Resources (OFR) [HHS - CDC]

Center for Global Health (CGH) [HHS - CDC]

Colorado United States

State-Wide

Integrated Viral Hepatitis Surveillance and Prevention Funding for Health Departments (CDC-RFA-PS21-2103)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 109904% from $3,395 to $3,734,644.