HR0803 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0803 LRB100 18981 MST 35411 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Herpes zoster (shingles) is a disease caused by the same virus (zoster) that causes chickenpox; therefore, any individual who has contracted chickenpox is at risk for shingles, approximately 98% of U.S. adults; and

WHEREAS, Nearly one in three people in the U.S. will contract shingles in their lifetime, corresponding to an estimated one million people annually; and

WHEREAS, The risk of shingles increases with age, with nearly half of those affected over 60 years of age; half of people living until 85 years of age will develop shingles; and

WHEREAS, Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash that can be severe; other symptoms include long-term nerve pain, fever, headache, chills, upset stomach, muscle weakness, skin infection, scarring, and decrease or loss of vision or hearing; and

WHEREAS, As much as 20% of adults who have contracted shingles will develop postherpetic neuralgia, a debilitating complication of shingles that causes severe pain that may interfere with sleep and recreational activities and can be associated with clinical depression; and

WHEREAS, Vaccines have reduced the burden of widespread and often fatal diseases, enabling individuals to lead longer and healthier lives while reducing health care costs; and

WHEREAS, Although much attention has been paid to the importance of childhood vaccinations, there is a general lack of awareness of adult-recommended vaccines and a misperception that immunizations are unnecessary for healthy adults; and

WHEREAS, The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommend that healthy adults 50 years and older be vaccinated against shingles to prevent shingles and shingles-related complications; and

WHEREAS, Despite the recommendations of CDC officials and other experts that all healthy adults be vaccinated against shingles, as of 2015 only 30% of eligible adults had received the shingles vaccine; and

WHEREAS, The annual economic burden of shingles in American adults is estimated to be between $782 million and $5 billion; and

WHEREAS, The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has stated that one of the six causes of excess costs in the U.S. healthcare system is missed prevention opportunities; and

WHEREAS, Millions of American adults go without routine and recommended vaccinations because our medical system is not set up to ensure that adults receive regular preventive healthcare; and

WHEREAS, The month of August is observed as National Immunization Awareness Month; residents of Illinois should be encouraged to speak with their healthcare provider to ensure that they have been properly vaccinated against shingles according to current CDC and ACIP recommendations; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare August of 2018 as "Shingles Awareness and Improvement Month" in the State of Illinois to increase public awareness of the importance of adults receiving vaccines against shingles and to promote outreach and education efforts concerning adult vaccination; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Public Health is urged to take appropriate action to promote "Shingles Awareness and Improvement Month", including urging health care practitioners to discuss vaccines for shingles with adult patients and adopting appropriate programs and initiatives to raise public awareness of the importance of adult vaccination; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Public Health is urged to create and disseminate educational resources on shingles and shingles vaccination to educate the residents of Illinois on vaccine-preventable diseases; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the Department of Public Health.