HR0691 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0691 LRB099 13258 GRL 37168 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The meningitis B vaccine has been newly approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; and

WHEREAS, Incoming college freshman students are most likely to be infected with meningitis due to the close living quarters and social nature of college students; college athletes are frequently together and commonly share items that can serve as a mechanism to transmit disease, promoting a high possibility of becoming infected with this disease; and

WHEREAS, There has recently been an outbreak of meningitis at the University of Oregon, infecting 6 individuals and resulting in one death; and

WHEREAS, In recent months and years, there have been multiple college students who have been infected with meningitis at different universities across several states, including San Diego State University, Drexel University, Princeton University, and Providence College, with some resulting in death and lifelong medical conditions not limited to loss of mental function, brain and kidney damage, loss of hearing, and amputation of limbs; and

WHEREAS, There are 5 strains of meningitis, with serogroup B being the most deadly and just recently becoming vaccine preventable; and

WHEREAS, Meningitis B resembles the flu but escalates much more quickly; one in ten cases of those infected with meningitis B has resulted in death; and

WHEREAS, Health insurers commonly only cover immunizations that are recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; public schools and universities cannot require that which is not recommended; and

WHEREAS, The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met in February of 2014, but did not make any changes relating to meningitis due to a shortened meeting; the sub-group then deferred the topic of meningitis B recommendations until June of 2015; and

WHEREAS, After the severe outbreak of meningitis, government leaders sent out a public safety announcement strongly urging parents to immunize their children; and

WHEREAS, Physicians do not keep in stock that which is not in demand, making access to the life-saving vaccine difficult for parents who desire to vaccinate their children; and

WHEREAS, A recommendation of this vaccine by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices would result in immunity for a majority of college students, allowing incoming students to develop immunity and protect their great, young minds and their futures from this known killer; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to recommend that incoming college students receive the meningitis B vaccine; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.