SLS 21RS-2681 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 137
BY SENATOR CATHEY
HEALTH DEPARTMENT. Requests the office of public health, Louisiana Department of
Health, to provide a comprehensive list of all schools, kindergartens, colleges, universities,
proprietary schools, vocational schools, and licensed day care centers that have sought
approval of the office to require a COVID-19 immunization pursuant to R.S. 17:170(A)(3).
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To urge and request the office of public health, Louisiana Department of Health, to provide
3 a comprehensive list of all schools, kindergartens, colleges, universities, proprietary
4 schools, vocational schools, and licensed day care centers that have sought approval
5 of the office to require a COVID-19 immunization pursuant to R.S. 17:170(A)(3).
6 WHEREAS, in December 2020, the United States Food and Drug Administration
7 (FDA) approved the first COVID-19 vaccination in the United States; and
8 WHEREAS, upon receiving FDA approval, the United States Centers for Disease
9 Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), comprised
10 of an independent panel of medical and public health experts, makes a recommendation on
11 availability to the public; and
12 WHEREAS, due to the limited availability of the COVID-19 vaccine at the outset,
13 the ACIP not only made a general recommendation, but also made recommendations based
14 on priority of availability due to risk of exposure and age; and
15 WHEREAS, in May 2021, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was approved for
16 adolescents age twelve and up; and
17 WHEREAS, the Moderna-NIAID vaccine is expected to receive authorization for
18 administration to children age twelve and up by summer 2021 and the Johnson & Johnson
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SLS 21RS-2681 ORIGINAL
1 vaccine is currently undergoing clinical trials for children age twelve and older; and
2 WHEREAS, it is expected that by late 2021 the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine may be
3 available for children as young as two years old; and
4 WHEREAS, R.S. 17:170 provides for proof of certain immunizations for persons
5 entering elementary and secondary schools, kindergartens, colleges, universities, proprietary
6 schools, vocational schools, and licensed day care centers, at the time of registration or entry
7 according to a schedule approved by the office of public health; and
8 WHEREAS, R.S. 17:170(A)(2) provides that the current immunization schedule
9 includes measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, poliomyelitis,
10 meningococcal disease, and hemophilus influenzae Type B invasive infections; and
11 WHEREAS, R.S. 17:170(A)(3) provides that at its own discretion and with the
12 approval of the office of public health, an educational institution or licensed day care center
13 may require immunizations or proof of immunity more extensive than required by the
14 schedule approved by the office of public health; and
15 WHEREAS, with the COVID-19 vaccine approved for children as young as twelve
16 years old and with the anticipation of the FDA approving the COVID-19 vaccination for
17 children as young as two years old within the next year, it is feasible that educational
18 institutions or licensed day care centers may seek approval from the office of public health
19 to require the COVID-19 vaccine for entry.
20 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
21 does hereby request the office of public health, Louisiana Department of Health to provide
22 a comprehensive list of all schools, kindergartens, colleges, universities, proprietary schools,
23 vocational schools, and licensed day care centers that have sought approval of the office to
24 require COVID-19 immunization pursuant to R.S. 17:170(A)(3) and whether the approval
25 was granted.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the comprehensive list requested in this
27 Resolution be submitted to the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana on July 1, 2021,
28 October 1, 2021, and January 1, 2022.
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
30 assistant secretary of the office of public health, Louisiana Department of Health.
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SLS 21RS-2681 ORIGINAL
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Christine Arbo Peck.
DIGEST
SR 137 Original 2021 Regular Session Cathey
Requests the office of public health, Louisiana Department of Health, to provide a
comprehensive list to the Senate on July 1, 2021, October 1, 2021, and January 1, 2022, of
all schools, kindergartens, colleges, universities, proprietary schools, vocational schools, and
licensed day care centers that have sought approval of the office to require a COVID-19
immunization pursuant to R.S. 17:170(A)(3) and whether the approval was granted.
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