Bill Text: MI HR0376 | 2017-2018 | 99th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: A resolution to declare September 2018 as Shingles Awareness and Improvement Month in the state of Michigan.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2018-09-05 - Adopted [HR0376 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2017-HR0376-Enrolled.html
Substitute for House Resolution No. 376.
A resolution to declare September 2018 as Shingles Awareness and Improvement Month in the state of Michigan.
Whereas, Shingles is a disease caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Any individual who has contracted chickenpox is at risk for shingles (approximately 98% of U.S. adults); and
Whereas, Nearly 1 in 3 people in the U.S. will contract shingles in their lifetime, corresponding to an estimated 1 million people annually. The total Michigan reported cases has increased each of the last 5 years and has almost doubled since 2014; and
Whereas, The risk of shingles increases with age, as nearly half of those affected are over 60 years and half of people living until 85 years of age will develop shingles. As of the 2010 Census, 16.7% of Michigan adults are age 65 or older; and
Whereas, Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash that can be severe along with other symptoms including long-term nerve pain, fever, headache, chills, upset stomach, muscle weakness, skin infection, scarring, decrease or loss of vision or hearing; and
Whereas, As much as 20% of adults who have contracted shingles will develop post herpetic neuralgia, a debilitating complication of shingles that causes severe pain, that may interfere with sleep and recreational activities, and 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. Despite the recommendations of CDC officials and other experts that all healthy adults be vaccinated against shingles, as of 2015 only 30 percent of eligible adults had received the shingles vaccine. The annual economic burden of shingles in American adults is estimated to be between $782 million and $5.0 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. 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, As the month of August is observed as National Immunization Awareness Month, residents of Michigan 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; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare September 2018 as Shingles Awareness and Improvement Month in the state of Michigan. We urge increased public awareness of the importance of adults receiving vaccines against shingles and promote outreach and education efforts concerning adult vaccination.
