HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	290
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

commending the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for its recommendation to immunize all children ages six months through age eighteen beginning July 1, 2009.

     WHEREAS, influenza is the most frequent cause of death from a vaccine-preventable disease in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, between 1990 and 1999, an average of 36,000 influenza-associated pulmonary and circulatory deaths occurred during each influenza season; and

     WHEREAS, influenza is also responsible for an average of 200,000 hospitalizations per year; and

     WHEREAS, health experts believe vaccinating children may help prevent deaths and prevent influenza from spreading among adults and the elderly; and

     WHEREAS, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is responsible for making official federal recommendations for the use of vaccines and immunizations in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices consists of fifteen experts in fields associated with immunization who have been selected by the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services; and

     WHEREAS, the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices are routinely adopted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which issues vaccination guidelines to doctors and hospitals; and

     WHEREAS, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends routine influenza vaccination for all children aged six months through age eighteen; and

     WHEREAS, influenza vaccination is currently recommended for those considered to be at high risk for severe complications from influenza including children ages six months to five years, adults age fifty or older, and people with weakened immune systems, as well as persons who live or care for people at high risk; and

     WHEREAS, vaccine manufacturers are expected to produce enough vaccine doses to ensure that supplies meet the demand of persons considered to be at high risk and persons covered by the new expanded vaccination recommendations; and

     WHEREAS, the need to increase the vaccination rate for children is a national priority and the health care system may not be prepared to accommodate 30,000,000 children; and

     WHEREAS, recent studies suggest school-based vaccination programs are an effective way to vaccinate children while reducing community infection rates and reducing rates of school absenteeism due to influenza; and

     WHEREAS, increased communication with and education of parents and health care providers can increase the rate of vaccination for children and adults and may reduce infection and serious illness; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature commends the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for its recommendation to immunize all children ages six months through age eighteen beginning July 1, 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature supports the efforts to reduce the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States, including communication and education programs to encourage influenza vaccination to reduce infection and serious illness; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Legislature House encourages increased funding for the delivery of influenza vaccines to children, including school-based vaccination programs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Commending Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices