Bill Text: DE SCR88 | 2015-2016 | 148th General Assembly | Draft

Delaware Senate Concurrent Resolution 88 (Prior Session Legislation)

Draft

Bill Title: Recognizing The Importance Of Educating Students And Parents In The Critical Role Vaccinations Play In Helping Prevent Meningococcal Disease.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2016-07-01 - Passed in House by Voice Vote [SCR88 Detail]

Download: Delaware-2015-SCR88-Draft.html

SPONSOR:	Sen. Hall-Long & Rep. Heffernan

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

148th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 88

RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATING STUDENTS AND PARENTS IN THE CRITICAL ROLE VACCINATIONS PLAY IN HELPING PREVENT MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE.

WHEREAS, meningococcal disease is serious and potentially life-threatening infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, or meningococcus.Although 1 in 10 people are carriers for this bacteria with no signs or symptoms of disease, sometimes Neisseria meningitidis bacteria can cause illness ; and

WHEREAS, meningococcal disease is spread from person to person.The bacteria are spread by exchanging respiratory and throat secretions (saliva or spit) during close (for example, coughing or kissing) or lengthy contact, especially if living in the same household.

WHEREAS, in the U.S., there are approximately 1,000 to 1,200 cases of meningococcal disease that occur each year , and

WHEREAS, 10 to 15 percent of infected individuals will die, while 11 to 19 percent of those who live will suffer from serious morbidity, including loss of limbs and impacts to the nervous system , and

WHEREAS, infants under one year of age, as well as young adults between the ages of 16 and 21, are most commonly impacted by this disease ; and

WHEREAS, there are different strains or serogroups of Neisseria meningitides, with serogroups B, C, and Y accounting for most meningococcal diseases in the US ; and

WHEREAS, there have been several recent outbreaks of serogroup B meningococcal disease on college campuses, with some cases resulting in death;and

WHEREAS, there are vaccines that help provide protection against all three serogroups (B, C, and Y) commonly seen in the United States; and

WHEREAS, vaccination for serogroups A, C, W and Y is routinely recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ; and

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that decisions to vaccinate adolescents and young adults 16 through 23 years of age against serogroup B meningococcal disease should be made at the individual level with health care providers ;and

WHEREAS, it is critical that students, parents, educators, and health care providers understand the dangers of meningitis B and are aware that a vaccine is available to prevent disease resulting from this serogroup;

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED, by the Senate of the 148th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the recent incidence of meningococcal disease has served as a reminder of the critical role vaccinations play in helping to prevent this devastating illness; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, thatthe State of Delaware take all reasonable steps to urge all private and public high schools, colleges, and universities in Delaware to provide information to all students and parents about meningococcal disease, explaining the different disease serogroups, symptoms, risks, and treatment; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that such information shall also include a notice of availability, benefits, risks, and limitations of all meningococcal vaccines receiving a recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, including Category A and Category B recommendations, with specific information as to those persons at higher risk for the disease; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each private and public high school, college, and university shall recommend that current and entering students receive meningococcal vaccines in accordance with current Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices guidelines.

SYNOPSIS

This Senate Concurrent Resolution recognizes the valuable role Meningitis vaccinations for all serotypes play in preventing a devastating illness and the importance of sharing the latest information with individuals most commonly impacted.

Author: Senator Hall-Long