HR0691 LRB099 13258 GRL 37168 r
1		HOUSE RESOLUTION
2		WHEREAS, The meningitis B vaccine has been newly approved
3		by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory
4		Committee on Immunization Practices; and
5		WHEREAS, Incoming college freshman students are most
6		likely to be infected with meningitis due to the close living
7		quarters and social nature of college students; college
8		athletes are frequently together and commonly share items that
9		can serve as a mechanism to transmit disease, promoting a high
10		possibility of becoming infected with this disease; and
11		WHEREAS, There has recently been an outbreak of meningitis
12		at the University of Oregon, infecting 6 individuals and
13		resulting in one death; and
14		WHEREAS, In recent months and years, there have been
15		multiple college students who have been infected with
16		meningitis at different universities across several states,
17		including San Diego State University, Drexel University,
18		Princeton University, and Providence College, with some
19		resulting in death and lifelong medical conditions not limited
20		to loss of mental function, brain and kidney damage, loss of
21		hearing, and amputation of limbs; and

HR0691 - 2 - LRB099 13258 GRL 37168 r
1		WHEREAS, There are 5 strains of meningitis, with serogroup
2		B being the most deadly and just recently becoming vaccine
3		preventable; and
4		WHEREAS, Meningitis B resembles the flu but escalates much
5		more quickly; one in ten cases of those infected with
6		meningitis B has resulted in death; and
7		WHEREAS, Health insurers commonly only cover immunizations
8		that are recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization
9		Practices; public schools and universities cannot require that
10		which is not recommended; and
11		WHEREAS, The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
12		met in February of 2014, but did not make any changes relating
13		to meningitis due to a shortened meeting; the sub-group then
14		deferred the topic of meningitis B recommendations until June
15		of 2015; and
16		WHEREAS, After the severe outbreak of meningitis,
17		government leaders sent out a public safety announcement
18		strongly urging parents to immunize their children; and
19		WHEREAS, Physicians do not keep in stock that which is not
20		in demand, making access to the life-saving vaccine difficult
21		for parents who desire to vaccinate their children; and

HR0691 - 3 - LRB099 13258 GRL 37168 r
1		WHEREAS, A recommendation of this vaccine by the Advisory
2		Committee on Immunization Practices would result in immunity
3		for a majority of college students, allowing incoming students
4		to develop immunity and protect their great, young minds and
5		their futures from this known killer; therefore, be it
6		RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
7		NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
8		urge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory
9		Committee on Immunization Practices to recommend that incoming
10		college students receive the meningitis B vaccine; and be it
11		further
12		RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13		delivered to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's
14		Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.