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Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 102
BY REPRESENTATIVE WILLMOTT
HEALTH: Requests DHH to collaborate with stakeholders in school-based vaccination
programs to prepare for the 2013-2014 influenza season
A RESOLUTION1
To urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals, center for community and2
preventive health, to work with school-located influenza vaccination stakeholders to3
prepare for the 2013-2014 influenza season in order to immunize children against4
influenza.5
WHEREAS, every year in the United States, on average, more than two hundred6
thousand people are hospitalized from influenza-related complications and the Centers for7
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that between three thousand and forty-nine8
thousand people in the United States die from influenza-related causes; and9
WHEREAS, it is estimated that between four hundred fifty thousand and nine10
hundred thousand Louisiana residents become infected with influenza each year; and11
WHEREAS, the total number of influenza-related hospitalizations in Louisiana range12
from five hundred to one thousand six hundred per year, with the rate varying from fifteen13
to thirty-five per one hundred thousand population per year; and14
WHEREAS, influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza A15
and B viruses; and16
WHEREAS, the best way to help prevent seasonal influenza is by getting a17
vaccination each year; and18
WHEREAS, the CDC recommends annual seasonal influenza vaccination for all19
eligible persons in the United States, including all individuals six months of age or older; and20 HLS 13RS-2019 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 102
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WHEREAS, children and young adults five years to nineteen years of age are three1
to four times more likely to be infected with influenza than adults; and2
WHEREAS, school-aged children is the population group most responsible for the3
transmission of influenza; and4
WHEREAS, influenza vaccination programs located in schools are effective ways5
to vaccinate eligible children and increase vaccination rates in children; and6
WHEREAS, influenza vaccination programs located in schools may improve7
organizational capacity to conduct sustained mass vaccination clinics for children as might8
be required in response to a pandemic; and9
WHEREAS, participation in vaccination programs by a school district or an10
individual should be voluntary and the vaccine should be administered with the consent of11
a student's parent or legal guardian.12
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the13
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Department of Health and14
Hospitals, center for community and preventive health, to work with school-located15
influenza vaccination stakeholders to prepare for the 2013-2014 influenza season in order16
to immunize children against influenza.17
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the Legislature18
of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to19
collaborate with the state insurance commissioner, private insurers, and vaccine stakeholders20
to facilitate the accessibility of coverage for all reasonable and customary expenses,21
including the cost of the vaccine and administration fee, incurred when the influenza vaccine22
is administered outside of a physician's office in a school or other settings.23
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the Legislature24
of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to help25
support these programs through coordination with local health departments, school nurses,26
mass vaccinations access companies, school health care programs, or other local entities.27
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the Legislature28
of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to assist29
mass vaccination companies in registering with the medical assistance program in order to30 HLS 13RS-2019 ORIGINAL
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receive vaccine from the federal Vaccines for Children program for eligible children and1
reimbursement from the medical assistance program for administration.2
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health and Hospitals shall3
submit a written report on the results of the school-located vaccination programs which4
addresses barriers to the expansion of the programs and proposes options for sustaining5
existing programs to the House Committee on Health and Welfare on or before April 1,6
2014.7
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the8
secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals.9
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Willmott HR No. 102
Urges and requests the Dept. of Health and Hospitals, center for community and preventive
health, to work with school-located influenza vaccination stakeholders to prepare for the
2013-2014 influenza season in order to immunize children against influenza and to report
to the House Committee on Health and Welfare on or before April 1, 2014.