H.R. 2596 – No Child Left Unimmunized Against Influenza

111^th Congress

 

This is a bill in the U.S. Congress originating in the House of Representatives (“H.R.”). A bill must be passed by both the House and Senate and then be signed by the President before it becomes law. Bill numbers restart from 1 every two years. Each two-year cycle is called a session of Congress. This bill was created in the 111th Congress, in 2009-2010. The titles of bills are written by the bill’s sponsor and are a part of the legislation itself.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 21, 2009

H.R. 2596 – No Child Left Unimmunized Against Influenza

To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a demonstration program to test the feasibility of using the Nation’s elementary and secondary schools as influenza vaccination centers.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas (for himself and Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

The Congress finds as follows:

(1) The influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. The best way to prevent the influenza is by getting a influenza vaccination each year.

(2) Every year in the United States, on average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from influenza-related complications, and about 36,000 people die from influenza-related causes.

(3) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends routine influenza vaccination for all children aged 6 months through 18 years with influenza vaccine, effective July 1, 2008.

(4) Children 2 to 17 years of age are twice as likely to get influenza as adults, including the elderly.

(5) School-aged children are the population group most responsible for transmission of contagious respiratory viruses, including influenza.

(6) The elderly and young children are the most vulnerable population to severe illness from influenza due to weaker immune response to vaccination. Experts have recognized that the best way to protect the elderly from influenza may be to vaccinate children.

(7) School-based vaccination programs are effective and cost-saving ways to vaccinate children while reducing transmission and infection rates to the larger community and at the same time reducing rates of school absenteeism due to influenza.

(8) Increased focus on providing influenza vaccine to children targeted for immunization will also help efforts to build a sound foundation for future vaccination efforts.

(9) School-based vaccination programs also potentially represent the most feasible mechanism for community-based pandemic vaccination.

(10) Increased participation in annual influenza vaccination programs builds the infrastructure necessary for pandemic vaccination.

(11) School-based programs will investigate the feasibility of conducting mass immunization clinics and build partnerships with local public health teams, in the event of a public health emergency.

Continued here: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-2596