Bill Text: NJ AJR95 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Chaptered


Bill Title: Designates August of each year as "Adult Vaccine Preventable Disease Awareness and Improvement Month" in New Jersey.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Passed) 2016-08-18 - Approved P.L.2016, JR-2. [AJR95 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2016-AJR95-Chaptered.html

§§1,2 -

C.36:2-272 &

36:2-273

 


P.L.2016, Joint Resolution No. 2, approved August 18, 2016

Assembly Joint Resolution No. 95

 

 


A Joint Resolution declaring August of each year as "Adult Vaccine Preventable Disease Awareness and Improvement Month."

 

Whereas, Vaccines have aided in reducing 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, Adult Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPDs), including diseases such as influenza and pneumonia, are a critical public health issue in the United States; and

Whereas, Influenza and pneumonia represent the seventh-leading cause of death among American adults age 65 and older; and

Whereas, As the population across the United States continues to age, the impact of VPDs on adults will likely increase; and

Whereas, For those with chronic health conditions, the complications from adult VPDs can include long-term illness, hospitalization, and death; and

Whereas, One way to potentially reduce adult VPDs is increased compliance rates for adult immunization; and

Whereas, The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommends a variety of vaccines for adults who are age 18 and older; these recommendations include both universal vaccination recommendations and recommendations targeted to specific populations, such as people with specific risk factors for certain diseases, people who belong to certain age groups, and adults who may have missed certain childhood vaccines; and

Whereas, The CDC has consistently found adult vaccination compliance rates to be below target levels; as part of its Healthy People 2020 goal, the CDC seeks to increase compliance for influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination in adults; and

Whereas, To highlight the value of immunization across the lifespan, from infancy through childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, and to promote outreach and education efforts, August of each year is recognized as National Immunization Awareness Month; and

Whereas, Increasing adult immunization rates requires a continuous commitment from health care providers and government health agencies to help adults understand the importance of adult immunization, recommend they receive appropriate vaccines, and provide appropriate education and outreach to raise awareness among both health care professionals and the public concerning the importance of increasing adult vaccination rates and reducing the number of incidents of VPD; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    August of each year is designated as "Adult Vaccine Preventable Disease Awareness and Improvement Month" in New Jersey to increase public awareness of the importance of adults receiving vaccines against preventable diseases and to promote outreach and education efforts concerning adult vaccination.

 

     2.    The Department of Health shall take appropriate action to promote Adult Vaccine Preventable Disease Awareness and Improvement Month, including urging health care practitioners to discuss vaccines for preventable diseases with adult patients and adopting appropriate programs and initiatives to raise public awareness of the importance of adult vaccination.

 

     3.    This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This joint resolution designates August of each year as "Adult Vaccine Preventable Disease Awareness and Improvement Month" in New Jersey to increase awareness of the importance of adults receiving vaccines against preventable diseases and to promote outreach and education efforts.  Although there is a strong public awareness of the importance of childhood immunization, it can be equally important for adults to obtain vaccines against preventable diseases such as influenza and pneumonia.  Increasing awareness of the importance of adult vaccination may help improve the health of both individual adults and the public at large. 

     The resolution requires the Department of Health to take appropriate action to promote Adult Vaccine Preventable Disease Awareness and Improvement Month, including urging health care practitioners to discuss vaccines for preventable diseases with adult patients and adopting appropriate programs and initiatives to raise public awareness of the importance of adult vaccination.

 

 

                                

 

     Designates August of each year as "Adult Vaccine Preventable Disease Awareness and Improvement Month" in New Jersey.

feedback