1Recognizing the month of August 2014 as "National Immunization
2Awareness Month."

3WHEREAS, The United States eradicated smallpox and polio
4through immunization, one of the most significant public health
5achievements of the 20th Century; and

6WHEREAS, With advances in vaccine technology, the incidence
7of measles, pertussis and diphtheria in the United States has
8fallen by more than 98%; and

9WHEREAS, The United States offers further protection from
10disease and public health emergencies, vaccinating against
11hepatitis A and B, influenza, human papillomavirus and cervical
12cancer, meningococcal and pneumococcal diseases, mumps, rabies,
13shingles, smallpox, tetanus, tuberculosis, typhoid fever,
14varicella and yellow fever; and

15WHEREAS, Vaccine-preventable diseases cause 1.7 million
16deaths among children worldwide each year; and

1WHEREAS, Only 77% of children in the United States have
2received all of the recommended vaccinations; and

3WHEREAS, Vaccine-preventable diseases cause 50,000 deaths
4among adults in the United States each year; and

5WHEREAS, Pneumonia and influenza are the fifth leading cause
6of death among adults older than 65 years of age, but fewer than
770% of those persons are appropriately vaccinated; and

8WHEREAS, The House of Representatives reaffirms our nation's
9continuing commitment to public education relating to
10immunization and to maintenance of strong immunization programs
11for people of all ages within our health care systems; and

12WHEREAS, The House of Representatives salutes health care
13professionals and researchers who have facilitated the success
14of immunizations in eradicating certain diseases and drastically
15decreasing other disease incidence rates; and

16WHEREAS, The House of Representatives, in keeping with the
17goals and ideals of National Immunization Awareness Month,
18encourages individuals to receive recommended immunizations and
19seeks increased community awareness of the benefits of
20immunization; and

21WHEREAS, August is an ideal month for children to receive
22immunizations required for school and an appropriate time for
23this national health observance; therefore be it

24RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
25month of August 2014 as "National Immunization Awareness Month."