PRINTER'S NO. 3436
No. 598 Session of 2004
INTRODUCED BY SAYLOR, KENNEY, ARGALL, HESS, WEBER, DeWEESE,
BALDWIN, BEBKO-JONES, BELARDI, BENNINGHOFF, BROWNE, CAPPELLI,
CRAHALLA, CRUZ, DALEY, DeLUCA, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI,
J. EVANS, GEIST, GEORGE, GILLESPIE, GOOD, GOODMAN, GRUCELA,
HERMAN, HERSHEY, KELLER, KIRKLAND, LEACH, LEDERER, MARKOSEK,
MARSICO, MUSTIO, PALLONE, PISTELLA, READSHAW, REICHLEY,
SATHER, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, SEMMEL, STERN, E. Z. TAYLOR,
THOMAS, TIGUE, WASHINGTON, WOJNAROSKI AND YOUNGBLOOD,
MARCH 16, 2004
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 16, 2004
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Joint State Government Commission to examine the
2 availability and accessibility of influenza vaccine in
3 Pennsylvania to determine the Commonwealth's readiness to
4 address an influenza epidemic and to determine outreach needs
5 to educate and encourage the citizens of this Commonwealth to
6 take advantage of vaccines made available.
7 WHEREAS, Influenza, commonly called "the flu," is caused by
8 the influenza virus, which infects the respiratory tract; and
9 WHEREAS, Influenza infection can cause severe illness and
10 serious, life-threatening complications, including death, in all
11 age groups; and
12 WHEREAS, Epidemics of influenza typically occur during the
13 winter months and were responsible for an average of
14 approximately 36,000 deaths per year in the United States from
15 1990 through 1999; and
16 WHEREAS, Influenza viruses can cause pandemics during which
1 rates of illness and death from influenza-related complications
2 increase dramatically worldwide; and
3 WHEREAS, Rates of infection are highest among children, but
4 rates of serious illness and death are highest among persons 65
5 years of age and older and persons of any age who have medical
6 conditions which place them at increased risk for complications
7 from influenza; and
8 WHEREAS, Influenza vaccine is the most important preventive
9 measure for individuals, especially persons at high risk for
10 serious complications; and
11 WHEREAS, Vaccination is associated with reductions in
12 influenza-related respiratory illness and physician visits among
13 all age groups, reductions in hospitalization and death among
14 persons at high risk, and reductions in work absenteeism among
15 adults; and
16 WHEREAS, The influenza season for 2003-2004 began early in
17 the United States, spreading through 47 states and resulting in
18 135 deaths of children under 15 years of age; and
19 WHEREAS, In 2003 manufacturers produced about 87.1 million
20 doses of influenza vaccine, including about 4 million in the
21 form of nasal-spray flu vaccine; and
22 WHEREAS, Due to increased consumer demand and early onset of
23 the flu season, shortages of vaccine have been reported across
24 the country; therefore be it
25 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
26 State Government Commission to examine the accessibility and
27 availability of influenza vaccine to determine the
28 Commonwealth's preparedness for a flu epidemic, make
29 recommendations to prevent future influenza vaccine shortages in
30 order to assure that Pennsylvania is prepared for potential
20040H0598R3436 - 2 -
1 influenza epidemics and report to the House of Representatives
2 on its activities, findings and recommendations by August 1,
3 2004.
C9L82DMS/20040H0598R3436 - 3 -