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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Meningococcal disease is any infection caused by
3the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, or meningococcus;
4although 1 in 10 people are carriers for this bacteria with no
5signs or symptoms of disease, sometimes Neisseria meningitidis
6bacteria can cause illness; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Meningococcal disease is spread from person to
8person via the exchange of the bacteria through respiratory and
9throat secretion during close or lengthy contact; and
 
10    WHEREAS, There are approximately 1,000 to 1,200 cases of
11meningococcal disease that occur in the United States each
12year; 10-15% of infected individuals will die, while 11-19% of
13those who live will suffer from serious morbidity, including
14loss of limbs and impacts to the nervous system; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Infants under one year of age and young adults
16between the ages of 16 and 21 are most commonly impacted by
17this disease; and
 
18    WHEREAS, There are different strains or serogroups of
19Neisseria meningitidis, with serogroups B, C, and Y accounting
20for most meningococcal diseases in the United States; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, There have been several recent outbreaks of
2serogroup B meningococcal disease on college campuses, with
3some cases resulting in death; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Vaccines are available to prevent meningococcal
5disease; different vaccines provide coverage against certain
6specific serogroups of the disease; and
 
7    WHEREAS, While there are vaccines that help provide
8protection against all 3 serogroups (B, C, and Y) commonly seen
9in the United States, only vaccination for serogroups A, C, W,
10and Y is routinely recommended by the Centers for Disease
11Control and Prevention; and
 
12    WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's
13Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that
14decisions to vaccinate adolescents and young adults 16 through
1523 years of age against serogroup B meningococcal disease
16should be made at the individual level with health care
17providers; and
 
18    WHEREAS, It is critical that students, parents, educators,
19and health care providers understand the dangers of meningitis
20B and are aware that a vaccine is available to prevent disease
21resulting from this serogroup; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, The recent incidences of meningococcal disease
2has served as a reminder of the critical role vaccinations play
3in helping to prevent this devastating illness; therefore, be
4it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
6ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge all private and
7public high schools, colleges, and universities in the State of
8Illinois to provide information to all students and parents
9about meningococcal disease, explaining the different disease
10serogroups, symptoms, risks, and treatments; and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That such information should also include a
12notice of availability, benefits, risks, and limitations of all
13meningococcal vaccines receiving a recommendation from the
14Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, including
15Category A and Category B recommendations, with specific
16information as to those persons at higher risk for the disease;
17and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That we urge each private and public high school,
19college, and university in the State to recommend that current
20and entering students receive meningococcal vaccines in
21accordance with current Advisory Committee on Immunization
22Practices guidelines; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be made
2available to all private and public high schools, colleges, and
3universities in the State.