HR0810 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0810 LRB104 21472 LAW 36686 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Vaccination is proven to be a safe, invaluable tool to proactively safeguard public health and prevent the devastating effects of vaccine-preventable diseases; and

WHEREAS, Vaccination has averted over 154 million deaths globally since 1974, of which 146 million were among children younger than 5 years of age; and

WHEREAS, Vaccination has greatly reduced morbidity and mortality by eradicating vaccine-preventable diseases, such as smallpox, and greatly reducing the incidence of a number of infections, including meningitis, measles, polio, and rubella; and

WHEREAS, Timely meningococcal vaccination in children and young adults helps protect against the debilitating effects of meningococcal disease, including death, and has led to a significant decrease in incidence; and

WHEREAS, Vaccination for highly contagious diseases, such as measles, is incredibly important; in order to achieve herd immunity against measles, 95% of the population must be vaccinated; if measles vaccination coverage rates drop below that threshold, outbreaks and preventable deaths will ultimately occur; and

WHEREAS, In 2025, declining measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination rates contributed to 49 measles outbreaks in the United States, with over 2,200 confirmed cases, the highest case count in over three decades; entering 2026, ongoing measles outbreaks risk the loss of measles elimination status in the United States, which has been in place since 2000; and

WHEREAS, An analysis of costs associated with invasive meningococcal disease outbreaks found that the average cost per outbreak containment strategy was almost $440,000, or $299,641 and $579,851 for small and large containment strategies, respectively; and

WHEREAS, Among the approximately 117 million children born in the United States during 1994 to 2023, vaccination averted 508 million lifetime cases of illness, 32 million hospitalizations, and 1.1 million deaths, resulting in an estimated savings of $540 billion in direct medical costs and $2.7 trillion in societal costs; and

WHEREAS, Vaccination can prevent the development of cancers later in life, evidenced by the success of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, which has contributed to a 65% reduction in cervical cancer incidence over the last decade; and

WHEREAS, Infants exposed to hepatitis B have a 90% risk of developing chronic hepatitis B, greatly increasing their risk of developing serious liver conditions, including liver cancer or cirrhosis, in their lifetime; and

WHEREAS, Infants face an increased hepatitis B exposure risk through everyday contact and infected family members, and they are susceptible to developing acute and serious health issues if they are infected at birth or in early childhood; and

WHEREAS, Public health analyses suggest that skipping or delaying the hepatitis B birth dose could result in thousands of preventable hepatitis B infections and hundreds of millions in avoidable healthcare costs in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Vaccination for four common diseases in older adults, including shingles, is estimated to prevent 64 million cases and $185 billion in treatment costs in the United States over the next 30 years; and

WHEREAS, While vaccinating children provides substantial health and economic benefits, vaccinating adults is also important; many childhood vaccines provide lifelong protection; however, immunity can decrease over a person's lifetime, and some vaccine-preventable diseases can be more severe in adults; and

WHEREAS, There continues to be disease burden in adults, especially in those with comorbidities, advanced age, or immunocompromising conditions, warranting continued, timely vaccination, especially against viruses that change frequently, such as influenza and COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, For example, vaccination against shingles for high-risk adults aged 19 and older, as well as all adults aged 50 and older, has proven highly effective in preventing both the infection and its transmission, offering long-lasting protection for several years after immunization; and

WHEREAS, In addition, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination in older adults is an effective preventive measure that reduces the likelihood of hospitalization and critical illness due to RSV infection; and

WHEREAS, Vaccines remain a safe and effective tool critical to safeguarding public health; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare July 10, 2026 as Vaccine Awareness Day in the State of Illinois to continue educating the public on the importance of vaccination, initiate meaningful dialogue around vaccination, and encourage the uptake of recommended vaccines; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to inform healthcare providers and Illinois residents that vaccinations are a highly effective and safe public health measure and to increase public awareness about the importance of all Illinois residents receiving immunizations as recommended by IDPH or other reputable professional medical societies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Family Physicians; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge IDPH to specify in its communications the differences between recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and those issued by professional medical societies and to promote vaccination outreach and education initiatives that emphasize the importance of communication between patients and healthcare providers; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge IDPH to continue prioritizing immunization initiatives and policies and to invest in immunization infrastructure to ensure broad and open access to immunizations to protect the public health and well-being of Illinois residents; and be it further

RESOLVED, That urge IDPH to strengthen the State's public health preparedness, encourage the promotion and sharing of evidence-based vaccine recommendations, improve cross-state collaboration, and respond effectively to federal vaccine policies that lack scientific basis; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the Governor of Illinois to explore joining a multi-state public health collaborative.