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.