Policy Resolution HHS-25-01

WHEREAS, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) supports broad, equitable access to recommended adult vaccines;

WHEREAS, there are many vaccine-preventable diseases, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), that pose an increased health risk to adults and older adults;

WHEREAS, despite United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) vaccine recommendations, adult vaccination rates remain low in the US and far below national targets according to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS);

WHEREAS, in 2021, pneumococcal vaccination coverage was 22.2 percent among adults aged 19-64 at increased risk for pneumococcal disease and 65.8 percent among adults aged 65 years and older according to the CDC;

WHEREAS, in 2021, shingles vaccination series coverage was 15.4 percent among adults aged 50 years and older according to the CDC;

WHEREAS, as of May 17, 2024, just 24.4 percent of adults aged 60 years and older reported receiving an RSV vaccine according to the CDC;

WHEREAS, racial and ethnic minority populations report consistently lower immunization rates than White individuals according to an article published in the Journal of Primary Care and Community Health;

WHEREAS, lower vaccination rates among racial and ethnic minority populations are attributable in part to decreased vaccine awareness according to an article published in the Journal of Primary Care and Community Health;

WHEREAS, RSV is one example of a common respiratory disease that can be the cause of serious physical and social burden, especially for infants and older adults according to the CDC;

WHEREAS, for people ages 65 years and older, RSV is a frequent cause of severe respiratory illness, leading to as many as 160,000 hospitalizations and 10,000 deaths in the US each year according to the CDC;

WHEREAS, RSV-associated hospitalization rates are even higher in adults with certain comorbid conditions, such as congestive heart failure and lung disease, which are more prevalent in racial and ethnic minority populations according to an article published by the National Institute of Health;

WHEREAS, RSV-associated hospitalization rates are 8 times higher in adults with congestive heart failure compared to adults without congestive heart failure according to an article published by the National Institute of Health;

WHEREAS, as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves and ACIP recommends new vaccines to help protect adults against RSV, it will be critical to support broad access to the growing adult vaccination platform; and

WHEREAS, while individuals may have received recommended childhood vaccines, immunity wanes over time, and keeping up to date with adult vaccinations is one of the most effective ways to maintain protection against certain vaccine-preventable diseases.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators encourages healthcare providers, community health centers, and state health departments to leverage programs and interventions that promote adult vaccination.

• Resolution ID: HHS-25-01
• Sponsored by: Rep. Camille Lilly (IL)
• Policy Committee: Health and Human Services (HHS)