HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

120

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

STRONGLY URGING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO CONSIDER Requiring ALL students AT the UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII system to show proof of full immunization against the hepatitis B virus prior to enrollment.

 

 

WHEREAS, there are an estimated 1,250,000 Americans chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus, of whom 20 to 30 per cent acquired their infection in childhood; and

WHEREAS, without vaccination, chronic infection of hepatitis B occurs in 90 per cent of infants infected at birth, 30 per cent of children infected at age one to five years, and 6 per cent of persons infected after age five; and

WHEREAS, without vaccination against hepatitis B, death from chronic liver disease occurs in 15 to 25 per cent of chronically infected persons; and

WHEREAS, the symptoms of hepatitis B are usually jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and joint pain; and

WHEREAS, about 30 per cent of persons show no outward signs or symptoms of being infected with hepatitis B, and symptoms are less common in children than adults; and

WHEREAS, transmission of hepatitis B occurs when blood or body fluids from an infected person enters the body of a person who is not immune; and

WHEREAS, the hepatitis B virus is often spread through unprotected sexual intercourse, the sharing of infected needles in drug abuse, exposure to infected needles and sharps on the job, and transmission from an infected mother to a newborn during birth; and

WHEREAS, the best way to prevent infection with hepatitis B is through vaccination, which has been available since 1982; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, that the University of Hawaii is strongly urged to consider requiring all students at the University of Hawaii to show proof of full immunization against the hepatitis B virus prior to enrollment; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the University of Hawaii, the Director of Health, and the Superintendent of Education.

Report Title:

UH; Hepatitis B Immunization for Entering Students