STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1414

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.C.R. No. 157

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 157 entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO COLLABORATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, HAWAII ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE AND THE AVAILABILITY OF VACCINES TO PREVENT IT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request that the Department of Health collaborate with the Department of Education, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, and University of Hawaii to promote awareness of meningococcal disease and the availability of vaccines to prevent the disease.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

 

     Your Committee finds that between 800 and 1,500 individuals fall ill from meningococcal disease each year, with infants under one year of age and young adults between the ages of 16 and 23 most commonly impacted by the disease.  Your Committee further finds that despite receiving available treatment, many individuals who fall ill from meningococcal disease suffer serious and long-lasting health impairments up to and including death.

 

     Your Committee additionally finds that vaccination provides extremely effective protection from meningococcal disease, and that vaccination information and comprehensive information about the disease are valuable to students and other individuals at increased risk of exposure to meningococcal disease.  Your Committee received testimony from the Department of Health indicating that public education efforts should include information on all vaccinations recommended for adolescents, rather than focusing solely on vaccinations for meningococcal disease.  The Department of Health's testimony notes that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that children between the ages of 11 and 12 receive an annual influenza vaccine as well as vaccines for human papillomavirus and tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Inserting language to request that the Department of Health's public education materials provide information on all vaccinations recommended for adolescents, rather than solely information on meningococcal disease vaccinations;

 

     (2)  Amending the title accordingly; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 157, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 157, S.D. 1.

 


Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

 

 

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair