[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                             THE THRIVE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROGER F. WICKER

                            of mississpippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 28, 2005

  Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to direct my colleagues to the 
critical need for adult immunizations and ask that they join me in 
supporting the Total Health Requires Improved Vaccination Efforts--or 
THRIVE Act--which Ms. Roybal-Allard and I are introducing today.
  Vaccines are one of our great medical achievements. Successful 
immunization efforts have eradicated small pox and driven rubella from 
the United States. Mumps, diphtheria, measles, and chicken pox are at 
record low levels. And thanks to immunization, we're on the brink of 
eradicating polio across the globe.
  Unfortunately, the success of childhood vaccination efforts has 
largely over-shadowed the need for adult vaccinations. Vaccine-
preventable diseases among adults result in 45 thousand unnecessary 
deaths each year.
  I urge my colleagues to support the THRIVE Act which will improve 
adult immunization efforts and help save lives.

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