Senate Resolution 124 - Introduced
PAG LIN
S.R. ________ H.R. ________
1 1 SENATE RESOLUTION NO.
1 2 BY RAGAN and SEYMOUR
1 3 A Resolution to recognize the work of the federal
1 4 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
1 5 and the efforts to reduce the incidence of
1 6 vaccine=preventable influenza.
1 7 WHEREAS, influenza is the most frequent cause of
1 8 death from a vaccine=preventable disease in the United
1 9 States; and
1 10 WHEREAS, between 1990 and 1999, an average of
1 11 36,000 influenza=associated pulmonary and circulatory
1 12 deaths occurred during each influenza season; and
1 13 WHEREAS, influenza is also responsible for an
1 14 average of 200,000 hospitalizations per year; and
1 15 WHEREAS, health officials estimate that influenza
1 16 and other respiratory viruses may be the cause of
1 17 death for approximately 20 children in Iowa this
1 18 winter; and
1 19 WHEREAS, health experts believe vaccinating
1 20 children may help prevent deaths and prevent the
1 21 illness from spreading to adults and the elderly; and
1 22 WHEREAS, ACIP makes the official federal
1 23 recommendations for the use of vaccines and
1 24 immunizations in the United States; and
1 25 WHEREAS, ACIP consists of 15 experts in fields
1 26 associated with immunization who have been selected by
1 27 the secretary of the United States Department of
1 28 Health and Human Services; and
1 29 WHEREAS, ACIP's recommendations are routinely
1 30 adopted by the centers for disease control and
2 1 prevention, which issues vaccination guidelines to
2 2 doctors and hospitals; and
2 3 WHEREAS, ACIP recommends routine influenza
2 4 vaccination for all children aged six months through
2 5 18 years, except those who are contraindicated,
2 6 effective July 1, 2008; and
2 7 WHEREAS, influenza vaccination is currently
2 8 recommended for those considered to be at high risk
2 9 for severe complications from influenza including
2 10 children ages six months to five years, adults 50 or
2 11 more years of age, and people with weakened immune
2 12 systems, as well as persons who live or care for
2 13 people at high risk; and
2 14 WHEREAS, vaccine manufacturers are expected to
2 15 produce enough vaccine doses to ensure that supplies
2 16 meet the demand of persons considered to be at high
2 17 risk and persons covered by the new expanded
2 18 vaccination recommendations; and
2 19 WHEREAS, the need to increase the vaccination rate
2 20 for children is a national priority and the health
2 21 care system may not be prepared to accommodate 30
2 22 million children; and
2 23 WHEREAS, recent studies suggest school=based
2 24 vaccination programs are an effective way to vaccinate
2 25 children while reducing community infection rates and
2 26 reducing rates of school absenteeism due to influenza;
2 27 and
2 28 WHEREAS, increased communication with and education
2 29 of parents and health care providers can increase the
2 30 rate of vaccination for children and adults and may
3 1 reduce infection and serious illness; NOW THEREFORE,
3 2 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate
3 3 commends ACIP for its recommendation to immunize all
3 4 children ages six months through 18 years beginning
3 5 July 1, 2008; and
3 6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Senate supports
3 7 the efforts to reduce the incidence of
3 8 vaccine=preventable diseases in the United States,
3 9 including communication and education programs to
3 10 encourage influenza vaccination to reduce infection
3 11 and serious illness; and
3 12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Senate encourages
3 13 increased funding for the delivery of influenza
3 14 vaccines to children, including school=based
3 15 vaccination programs.
3 16 LSB 6624SS 82
3 17 md/nh/5