Washington State Phases Out Care-A-Van Program Amid Funding Cuts
Washington, D.C. – The Care-A-Van program, a mobile vaccination initiative launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, is being discontinued by the Washington State Department of Health. This decision comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reduces funding, resulting in the elimination of over $130 million in pandemic-related programs.
The Care-A-Van was designed to assist communities with limited healthcare access by providing vaccinations and other essential health services. With its ending, the Department of Health is exploring new ways to address healthcare access problems.
A spokesperson expressed concern about the implications of this program’s suspension, stating, "We are deeply saddened by this immediate pause and are doing our best to inform the public and collaborate with partners to fill the gaps in care access. These changes have significant effects that are being felt throughout the state."
The Care-A-Van played a vital role for the Department of Health, offering mobile healthcare services during COVID-19 and other public health emergencies. Lacy Fehrenbach, Chief of Prevention, Safety, and Health at the Washington Department of Health, emphasized, "The Care-A-Van has been essential in our response, providing quick community-based solutions alongside trusted partners during the pandemic and other health crises."
Defending their decision, the Department of Health and Human Services indicated last week, "The COVID-19 pandemic is over, and we will no longer spend billions of taxpayer dollars addressing a problem that has largely subsided."
Since last July, the Care-A-Vans have administered nearly 7,000 COVID-19 vaccines and close to 4,000 flu vaccines, along with offering physical exams and blood tests. Over 100 scheduled stops from now until the end of June have had to be canceled due to the loss of funding, including more than 30 appointments intended for school children.
