HR1237 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1237 LRB096 22287 RPM 41274 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Every year in the United States, on average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from influenza-related complications and about 36,000 people, primarily in the elderly population, die from influenza-related causes; and

WHEREAS, The most effective strategy for preventing influenza is annual vaccination; and

WHEREAS, School-aged children ages 5 to 19 years have the highest rates of influenza infection and school-aged children are the major vectors for influenza transmission that spread the virus to adults and the elderly in the community, causing substantial socioeconomic impact; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends universal influenza vaccination of all individuals; and

WHEREAS, Influenza vaccination rates for school-aged children are extremely low, ranging from 21.1% (high-risk) to 33% (healthy) during the 2006 to 2007 influenza season, and new immunization strategies are needed to improve vaccination in this population; and

WHEREAS, The potential threat of an influenza pandemic underscores the importance of building school-based vaccination infrastructure as federal pandemic preparedness plans call for the vaccination with the pandemic vaccine of an unprecedented number of children, potentially in the school setting; and

WHEREAS, School-based influenza vaccination programs have grown substantially in recent years and have been particularly successful in schools in which a majority of children qualify for vaccine though the federal Vaccines for Children program; and

WHEREAS, A barrier in school-based influenza vaccination programs is the reimbursement of vaccine to children who have private insurance that covers influenza vaccine but does not recognize the school-setting as a point of service for administration of the vaccine; and

WHEREAS, Private insurance's recognition of alternative delivery venues, such as schools, for the administration of influenza vaccine would increase access for all school-aged children to receive vaccination to protect themselves and their communities from influenza; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Department of Public Health to work with the Director of Insurance, private insurers, and vaccine stakeholders to coordinate the accessibility of coverage for children who have private insurance that covers influenza vaccination for all reasonable and customary expenses, including the cost of the vaccine and the administration fee, incurred when influenza vaccine is administered outside of the physician's office in a school or other related setting; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the Director of Public Health and the Director of Insurance.