PRINTER'S NO. 2053
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
426
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY CORBIN, SCHLOSSBERG, THOMAS, KIRKLAND, ADOLPH,
STAATS, KINSEY, ROEBUCK, BAKER, DiGIROLAMO, ROZZI, MILLARD,
YOUNGBLOOD, MURT, WARD, COHEN, BURNS, READSHAW, KILLION,
J. HARRIS, SNYDER AND ROSS, JULY 21, 2015
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
JULY 21, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of August 2015 as "National Immunization
Awareness Month."
WHEREAS, The United States eradicated smallpox and polio
through immunization, one of the most significant public health
achievements of the 20th Century; and
WHEREAS, With advances in vaccine technology, the incidence
of measles, pertussis and diphtheria in the United States has
fallen by more than 98%; and
WHEREAS, The United States offers further protection from
disease and public health emergencies, vaccinating against
hepatitis A and B, influenza, human papillomavirus and cervical
cancer, meningococcal and pneumococcal diseases, mumps, rabies,
shingles, smallpox, tetanus, tuberculosis, typhoid fever,
varicella and yellow fever; and
WHEREAS, Vaccine-preventable diseases cause 1.7 million
deaths among children worldwide each year; and
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WHEREAS, Only 77% of children in the United States have
received all of the recommended vaccinations; and
WHEREAS, Vaccine-preventable diseases cause 50,000 deaths
among adults in the United States each year; and
WHEREAS, Pneumonia and influenza are the fifth leading cause
of death among adults older than 65 years of age, but fewer than
70% of those persons are appropriately vaccinated; and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives reaffirms our nation's
continuing commitment to public education relating to
immunization and to maintenance of strong immunization programs
for people of all ages within our health care systems; and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives salutes health care
professionals and researchers who have facilitated the success
of immunizations in eradicating certain diseases and drastically
decreasing other disease incidence rates; and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives, in keeping with the
goals and ideals of "National Immunization Awareness Month,"
encourages individuals to receive recommended immunizations and
seeks increased community awareness of the benefits of
immunization; and
WHEREAS, August is an ideal month for children to receive
immunizations required for school and an appropriate time for
this national health observance; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
month of August 2015 as "National Immunization Awareness Month."
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