ENCOURAGING ADULT IMMUNIZATION

WHEREAS, vaccines have been widely cited as one of the ten great public health achievements of the 20th and 21st centuries, responsible for helping to increase life expectancy in the United States by over 25 years between 1900-1999, and directly credited for saving hundreds of thousands of lives in the United States and millions around the world;

WHEREAS, significant strides have been made to increase vaccine uptake rates and reduce vaccinepreventable diseases among children in the United States;

WHEREAS, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommend immunization for adults against 14 different vaccine-preventable diseases, including influenza, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), varicella (chickenpox), human papilloma virus (HPV), zoster (shingles), measles, mumps, rubella, pneumococcal disease (pneumonia), meningococcal disease (meningitis), hepatitis A, and hepatitis B;

WHEREAS, despite the recommendations from experts about the effectiveness and safety of adult vaccines, immunization rates remain low and far below national targets;

WHEREAS, although immunization rates are low among all adults, substantial racial and ethnic disparities exist, with immunization rates among African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos substantially lower than the rates of their white counterparts;

WHEREAS, during the 2010-2011 influenza season, 44 percent of Caucasians were vaccinated, whereas only 40 percent of Hispanics/Latinos and 39 percent of African Americans received vaccinations;

WHEREAS, between 40,000 and 50,000 adults die annually from vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States;

WHEREAS, the CDC estimates the direct healthcare burden of adult vaccine-preventable diseases at $10 billion annually;

WHEREAS, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) has stated that one of the six causes of excess costs in the United States healthcare system is missed prevention opportunities;

WHEREAS, millions of American adults go without routine and recommended vaccinations because our medical system is not designed to ensure that adults receive regular preventive healthcare; and

WHEREAS, it is important to acknowledge that vaccinations are not without risks and medical professionals dispersing vaccines are required to make all substantive disclosures regarding the risks associated with receiving a certain vaccine.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) states unwavering support for Adult Immunization Awareness and urge all citizens to speak with their healthcare providers to ensure their vaccinations are current, and all providers and policymakers work to remove barriers to vaccination and protect adults from vaccine-preventable diseases;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL applauds the Affordable Care Act provisions passed by the United States Congress, requiring preventative care, including immunizations to be covered at no costs to the patient; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials as appropriate.

SPONSOR: Senator Donne Trotter (IL)
Committee of Jurisdiction: Health and Human Services Policy Committee
Certified by Committee Chair: Representative Beverly Earle (NC)
Ratified in Plenary Session: Ratification Date is December 9, 2011
Ratification is certified by: Representative Barbara W. Ballard (KS), President