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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The observance of National Immunization Awareness |
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Month in August 2017 provides an opportunity to reflect on the |
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lifesaving power of immunization, promote education and awareness, |
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and encourage all Texans to take action to protect their health; and |
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WHEREAS, The invention of vaccines is undeniably one of the |
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most important and transformative advancements in medicine, |
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drastically reducing the incidence and morbidity of infectious |
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diseases and saving lives that would otherwise be lost; by |
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preventing and eliminating illnesses like polio, smallpox, mumps, |
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and yellow fever that were once a tragic and inescapable reality, |
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immunizations have changed the face of childhood and altered the |
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course of every society on earth toward a healthier and more hopeful |
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future; and |
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WHEREAS, Although immunizations are a crucial tool for |
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combating infectious disease, much remains to be done to ensure the |
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availability and use of vaccines in the United States, which ranks |
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114th among world countries in its rate of measles immunization in |
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infants; and |
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WHEREAS, Because widespread immunizations limit the spread |
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of disease among those who are too young or who are otherwise unable |
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to receive vaccinations, a low rate of immunization has the |
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troubling potential to endanger especially the more vulnerable |
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members of society, and it creates a greater risk of disease |
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outbreak; and |
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WHEREAS, The importance of immunizations to the health of our |
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communities cannot be overstated, and National Immunization |
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Awareness Month in August provides an opportunity for educators, |
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health professionals, and other citizens to come together to inform |
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people of the steps to take to protect themselves and their loved |
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ones; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby recognize August 2017 as |
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National Immunization Awareness Month and encourage residents of |
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the Lone Star State to help spread the message about the importance |
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of immunization. |