HR0129 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0129 LRB104 12087 MST 22185 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Vaccination is proven to be a safe, invaluable tool to proactively safeguard public health and prevent the devastating effects of vaccine-preventable diseases; and

WHEREAS, Vaccination has averted over 154 million deaths globally since 1974, of which 146 million were among children younger than five years of age; and

WHEREAS, Vaccination has greatly reduced morbidity and mortality by eradicating vaccine-preventable diseases (e.g., smallpox) and has greatly reduced the incidence of infections such as meningitis, measles, polio, and rubella; and

WHEREAS, Timely meningococcal vaccination in children and young adults helps protect against the debilitating effects of meningococcal disease, including death, and has led to a significant decrease in incidence; and

WHEREAS, Vaccination for highly contagious diseases such as measles is incredibly important; in order to achieve herd immunity against measles, 95% of the population must be vaccinated; if measles vaccination coverage rates drop below that threshold, outbreaks and preventable deaths will ultimately occur; therefore, maintaining high vaccine coverage rates is critical to protect the public and prevent transmission; and

WHEREAS, An analysis of costs associated with invasive meningococcal disease outbreaks found that the average cost per outbreak containment strategy was almost $440,000 ($299,641 and $579,851 for small and large containment strategies, respectively); and

WHEREAS, Among the approximately 117 million children born during 1994-2023 in the United States, vaccination averted 508 million lifetime cases of illness, 32 million hospitalizations, and 1.1 million deaths, resulting in estimated savings of $540 billion in direct medical costs and $2.7 trillion in societal costs; and

WHEREAS, Vaccination can prevent the development of cancers later in life (e.g., human papillomavirus vaccination, which has contributed to a 65% reduction in cervical cancer incidence over the last decade); and

WHEREAS, Vaccination for four common diseases in older adults, including shingles, is estimated to prevent 64 million cases and $185 billion in treatment costs over the next 30 years in the United States; and

WHEREAS, While vaccinating children provides substantial health and economic benefit, vaccinating adults is also important; many childhood vaccines provide life-long protection; however, immunity can decrease over a person's lifetime, and some vaccine-preventable diseases can be more severe in adults; and

WHEREAS, There continues to be disease burden in adults, especially in those with comorbidities, advanced age, or immunocompromising conditions, warranting continued, timely vaccination, especially against viruses that change frequently (e.g., influenza, COVID-19); and

WHEREAS, For example, vaccination against shingles for high-risk adults aged 19 and older, as well as all adults aged 50 and older, has proven highly effective in preventing both the infection and its transmission, offering long-lasting protection for several years after immunization; and

WHEREAS, For example, respiratory syncytial virus vaccination in older adults is an effective preventive measure that reduces the likelihood of hospitalization and critical illness due to respiratory syncytial virus infection; and

WHEREAS, Vaccines remain a safe and effective public health measure; in the United States, vaccines undergo a thorough regulatory review process, which includes Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and a recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) after careful evaluation; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare April 10, 2025 as Vaccine Awareness Day in the State of Illinois to educate the public about the importance of vaccinations, initiate meaningful dialogue around vaccinations, and encourage the uptake of vaccines; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois Department of Health to continue to promote to healthcare providers and the people of this state that vaccinations are a highly effective and safe public health measure and increase public awareness about the importance of all Illinois residents receiving recommended immunizations, and to promote outreach and education efforts concerning vaccinations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois Department of Health to continue to prioritize immunization initiatives, develop policies, and invest in immunization infrastructure to ensure broad and open access to immunizations to safeguard public health and protect the well-being of Illinois residents.