SJR 78

SJR78 191944-2 By Senator Brewbaker RFD: Rules First Read: 22-FEB-18 SJR78 SJR78 ENROLLED, SJR78, RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION. WHEREAS, meningococcal disease is any infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitides, or meningococcus; one in 10 people are carriers of this bacteria with no signs or symptoms of disease; and WHEREAS, meningococcal disease is spread from person to person via the exchange of the bacteria through respiratory and throat secretion during close or lengthy contact; and WHEREAS, in the United States, there are approximately 1,000 to 1,200 cases of meningococcal disease each year; and WHEREAS, ten to 15 percent of infected individuals will die, while 11 to 19 percent of those who live will suffer from serious morbidity, including loss of limbs and impacts to the nervous system; and WHEREAS, infants under one year of age, as well as young adults between the ages of 16 and 21, are most commonly impacted by this disease; and SJR78 WHEREAS, there are different strains or serogroups of Neisseria meningitides, with serogroups B, C, and Y accounting for most meningococcal diseases in the United States; and WHEREAS, vaccines are available to prevent meningococcal disease, and there are different vaccines that provide coverage against certain specific serogroups of the disease; and WHEREAS, while there are vaccines that help provide protection against all three serogroups commonly seen in the United States, only the vaccination for serogroups A, C, W, and Y is routinely recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that decisions to vaccinate adolescents and young adults 16 through 23 years of age against serogroup B meningococcal disease should be made at the individual level with health care providers; and WHEREAS, it is critical that students, parents, educators, and health care providers understand the dangers of meningitides B and are aware that a vaccine is available to prevent disease resulting from this serogroup; now therefore, SJR78 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That we recognize the importance of meningococcal disease awareness and prevention. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we take all reasonable steps to urge all colleges and universities in Alabama to educate students on the benefits and risks of meningococcal immunization in accordance with the latest recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. SJR78 President and Presiding Officer of the Senate Speaker of the House of Representatives SJR78 Senate 01-MAR-18 I hereby certify that the within Senate Joint Resolution originated in and was adopted by the Senate. Patrick Harris, Secretary. House of Representatives Adopted: 08-MAR-18 By: Senator Brewbaker