By:  Zaffirini                                        S.C.R. No. 42
                             SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-1        WHEREAS, For the last five years, the State of Texas has led
    1-2  the nation in vaccine preventable disease morbidity and mortality;
    1-3  and
    1-4        WHEREAS, Texas also ranks last among all 50 states in the
    1-5  percentage of children who have been fully immunized, with
    1-6  immunization levels in some parts of the state below those of third
    1-7  world countries; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, It has been estimated that three out of every 10
    1-9  two-year-olds fail to get proper immunizations, and in our inner
   1-10  cities and colonias less than 50 percent of two-year-olds are fully
   1-11  immunized; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, Measles cases have risen sharply, and the majority
   1-13  of these cases has been in the preschool age population; and
   1-14        WHEREAS, In addition to death and suffering, preventable
   1-15  diseases are economic burdens to the health care delivery system;
   1-16  and
   1-17        WHEREAS, There is limited immunization education and
   1-18  motivation among parents and guardians of young children in Texas;
   1-19  in addition, the general public is unaware of the existence and
   1-20  severity of vaccine preventable disease; and
   1-21        WHEREAS, Indifference and apathy to the low vaccine rate in
   1-22  Texas can be overcome through concerted efforts of health care
   1-23  leaders, public officials, and public citizens; now, therefore, be
    2-1  it
    2-2        RESOLVED, That the 73rd Legislature of the State of Texas
    2-3  hereby declare July, 1993, as Immunization Month in Texas; and, be
    2-4  it further
    2-5        RESOLVED, That the Texas Department of Health direct a
    2-6  bilingual statewide immunization effort for the month of July,
    2-7  1993, coordinating efforts of the United States government, the
    2-8  United States Armed Forces, other state agencies, public medical
    2-9  schools, health science centers, and volunteer health care
   2-10  providers with public and private entities to provide public
   2-11  service announcements, newspaper and other notices, transportation
   2-12  services, state and local public facilities, and other necessary
   2-13  components to focus public attention on immunization efforts, bring
   2-14  about public awareness, and effectuate the immunization of persons
   2-15  under 18 years of age.