Bill Text: IL HR0691 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Urges the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to recommend that incoming college students receive the meningitis B vaccine.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-08-01 - Rule 19(b) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HR0691 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-HR0691-Introduced.html

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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

HR0691 - 2 - LRB099 13258 GRL 37168 r
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

HR0691 - 3 - LRB099 13258 GRL 37168 r
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.