[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1003 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1003

  Expressing support for the designation of January 10, 2010, through 
       January 16, 2010, as National Influenza Vaccination Week.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 12, 2010

Ms. Chu (for herself, Ms. Corrine Brown of Florida, Mr. Wu, Mr. Kagen, 
Mr. Conyers, Mr. Meeks of New York, Mr. Cao, Mr. McGovern, Ms. DeGette, 
Ms. Richardson, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Sestak, Mr. Baca, and Mr. 
 Massa) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing support for the designation of January 10, 2010, through 
       January 16, 2010, as National Influenza Vaccination Week.

Whereas National Influenza Vaccination Week may provide an important opportunity 
        to encourage seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccination at a time when demand for 
        flu vaccines usually drops significantly but the risk for infection 
        remains;
Whereas each year 5 to 20 percent of the population in the United States gets 
        the flu, an average of more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from 
        flu-related complications, and about 36,000 people die from flu-related 
        causes;
Whereas between April and mid-November, the United States saw approximately 
        47,000,000 cases of the 2009 H1N1 flu, more than 200,000 
        hospitalizations, and nearly 10,000 deaths;
Whereas the United States is fortunate that the flu activity has declined in 
        recent weeks, but flu experts warn that the public is still at risk of 
        infection and we should also prepare for a possible third wave of H1N1 
        flu;
Whereas people in the United States have a window of opportunity to get the H1N1 
        vaccine and lessen the impact of, or even prevent, another wave of 
        illness;
Whereas getting vaccinated is a shared responsibility to protect families and 
        communities that is safe and effective, and it is the best defense 
        against all types of flu;
Whereas seasonal flu vaccines have been safely used for more than 60 years and 
        data compiled for H1N1 vaccines indicate a similarly excellent safety 
        profile;
Whereas information on seasonal flu vaccine distribution and availability is 
        available at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) 
        www.Flu.gov Web site;
Whereas over 135,000,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine are now available, with more 
        coming every day;
Whereas Congress recognizes the hard work of public health officials in 
        responding to the 2009 H1N1 flu;
Whereas one of the goals, in addition to fostering continuing influenza 
        vaccination, of National Influenza Vaccination Week is to engage H1N1 
        at-risk audiences who are not yet vaccinated;
Whereas when the vaccine was first made available, the CDC's Advisory Committee 
        on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended that vaccination efforts 
        should focus first on people in five target groups who are at higher 
        risk for the 2009 H1N1 influenza or related complications;
Whereas the five target groups for H1N1 are pregnant women, people who live with 
        or provide care for infants younger than 6 months, health care and 
        emergency medical services personnel, people 6 months through 24 years 
        of age, and people 25 years through 64 years of age who have certain 
        medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related 
        complications;
Whereas Monica Rodriguez, a pregnant mother from El Monte, California, could 
        have prevented her death if she was able to get vaccinated;
Whereas January 13 is Families Flu Vaccination Day and will highlight the 
        importance of the 2009 H1N1 vaccination for pregnant women, children, 
        and caregivers of children less than 6 months of age;
Whereas H1N1 flu shots are widely available and everyone, even those not in the 
        high-risk groups are urged to get vaccinated;
Whereas the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as well as State and 
        local public health departments and other partners, such as Families 
        Fighting Flu, are planning National Influenza Vaccination Week events 
        around the country and have additional information available at 
        www.cdc.gov/flu/NIVW/;
Whereas the American Public Health Association, the Association of State and 
        Territorial Health Officials, Families Fighting Flu, the Infectious 
        Diseases Society of America, the American Medical Association, the 
        American Nurses Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the 
        American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the National 
        Environmental Health Association, the National Association of Nurse 
        Practitioners in Women's Health, the American Association of Colleges of 
        Nursing, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, the 
        American Osteopathic Association, the National Association of Community 
        Health Centers, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse 
        Practitioners, the American Red Cross, the American Academy of Physician 
        Assistants, the National Hispanic Medical Association, the American 
        College of Emergency Physicians, the American College of Preventive 
        Medicine, the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the International 
        Association of Firefighters, the American Academy of Family Physicians, 
        the Association for Profession in Infection Control and Epidemiology, 
        the American Pharmacists Association, the American College Health 
        Association, the American College of Physicians, the National Family 
        Planning and Reproductive Health Association, the National Association 
        of School Nurses, the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, 
        the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related 
        Institutions, the National Community Pharmacists Association, the 
        American Hospital Association, the Federation of American Hospitals, 
        Epocrates, the American Academy of Neurology, the National Association 
        of County and City Health Officials, and the Association of Occupational 
        Health Professionals in Healthcare support the H1N1 flu vaccine; and
Whereas people can find seasonal and H1N1 vaccine distribution information by 
        checking the www.Flu.gov Web site that identifies clinics that have 
        influenza vaccine available: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of National Influenza 
        Vaccination Week, including raising public awareness that 
        vaccination is the best defense against the flu; and
            (2) encourages people in the United States to get 
        vaccinated, especially those with underlying health conditions, 
        pregnant women, children, young adults, caretakers of infants, 
        and healthcare workers.
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