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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is committed to |
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supporting measures that safeguard the health of our state's |
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residents, and in that spirit, the members of this chamber are |
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promoting greater awareness of the Tdap vaccine; and |
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WHEREAS, Licensed in 2005, Tdap is the only combination |
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vaccine designed to protect adolescents and adults, specifically, |
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against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, commonly known as |
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whooping cough; and |
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WHEREAS, While cases of tetanus and diphtheria are rare today |
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in the United States, the incidence of pertussis has been |
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increasing since 1976, when vaccination for the disease brought the |
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number of cases down to just over a thousand; according to the |
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2009 Texas had 3,358 |
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reported cases, the highest number in the country; nationwide, 2010 |
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was expected to see the most cases in nearly half a century; and |
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WHEREAS, Because the immunity conferred by vaccination for |
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pertussis fades over time, it is important that adults receive the |
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Tdap booster and continue to be revaccinated at 10-year intervals, |
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unless their personal medical histories indicate otherwise; |
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physicians attribute the increase in pertussis, in large measure, |
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to the fact that many adults and adolescents have not received the |
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Tdap vaccine; and |
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WHEREAS, Pertussis typically lasts for about six weeks and, |
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in addition to violent coughing, can lead to pneumonia and swelling |
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of the brain; before the advent of widespread immunization in the |
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U.S., pertussis caused nearly 8,000 fatalities a year and was a |
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significant cause of childhood death; it remains a serious threat |
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to infants, for they have not yet completed the full cycle of |
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childhood vaccinations; and |
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WHEREAS, Many infants who develop pertussis are infected by |
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adults and adolescents who are carrying the disease but do not know |
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it because their symptoms are typically less acute; pertussis is |
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highly contagious, and those who have contracted the illness remain |
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infectious for about 21 days; and |
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WHEREAS, Although pertussis is generally less severe in |
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adults, they are frequently forced to miss work for repeated doctor |
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visits and may also develop complications and require |
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hospitalization; and |
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WHEREAS, Pertussis is a dangerous illness, but it is |
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preventable if children are inoculated and if adolescents and |
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adults keep current with Tdap booster immunizations; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby encourage greater public awareness of the risks |
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associated with pertussis and of the importance of adolescents and |
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adults receiving Tdap vaccinations on a regular schedule. |