BILL ANALYSIS
By: Coleman
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Influenza is a highly infectious acute viral respiratory disease that causes moderate to severe illness in persons of all ages every year. The most common, major complication of influenza is pneumonia. The very young and the elderly have similar high rates of hospitalisation for influenza and its sequellae. Infants and preschool-aged children are considered to be among the most efficient incubators and transmitters of this disease. These infected children may also transmit their disease to other highly-susceptible healthy individuals or to high-risk persons with certain medical conditions. In February 2006, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) expanded earlier influenza recommendations to include annual routine vaccinations for all children aged 6 months to 59 months. Annual vaccinations are necessary, because circulating strains of the influenza virus vary from one flu season to the next.
CSHB 3184 would improve education efforts by requiring the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to publish information for parents on its website about the benefits of annual influenza immunizations and to work with the Department of Human Services and licensed day-care facilities to ensure the information is distributed to parents in a timely manner.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
CSHB 3184 requires the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to educate parents of children in certain licensed day-care facilities in the state's early childhood vaccination program by publishing information about the benefits of annual vaccinations against influenza for children aged 6 months to 5 years on its website. The bill also requires DSHS to work with the Department of Family and Protective Services and child-care facilities to ensure the information is distributed to parents in August or September of each year.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
CSHB 3184 modifies the original changing the age from 59 months to 5 years. It also replaces the reference to the Department of Human Services with the Department of Family and Protective Services, the agency currently responsible for the licensing and regulation of child care facilities. The substitute also changes the distribution of information from August and September to August or September.