Requires vaccinations against meningococcal disease for seventh graders and students entering college; repealer

2 Co-sponsors

• Velmanette Montgomery
• Antoine M. Thompson

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring vaccinations against meningococcal disease for seventh graders and students entering college; and repealing certain provisions of such law relating thereto

Purpose

This bill requires vaccination against meningococcal disease for seventh graders and students entering college.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of the bill adds a new paragraph (c) to PHL § 2164(2) to require immunization against meningococcal disease for students entering, repeating or transferring into the seventh grade.

Section 2 of the bill amends PHL § 2164(3), (5), (6), (7), and (8-a) to add meningococcal disease to the list of school vaccination requirements.

Section 3 of the bill amends PHL § 2165(1) (d) to require college students to be immunized against meningococcal disease.

Section 4 of the bill repeals PHL § 2167.

Section 5 of the bill provides that the bill takes effect August 1, 2011.

Justification

This bill strengthens prevention measures to protect children's health and well-being by requiring meningococcal vaccinations for children entering the seventh grade or attending college. Meningococcal meningitis is a serious disease which can lead to death within only a few hours. Survivors may be left with a severe disability such as loss of limb, cognitive deficits, paralysis, deafness, or seizures. Meningococcal outbreaks can cause severe disruption of classes, campus life and alarm among students and faculty. Between 100 and 125 cases of meningococcal disease occur on college campuses every year in the United States; between 5 and 15 college students die each year as result of infection. This bill requires meningococcal vaccine for all seventh graders and all student entering college, which should substantially reduce the number of such outbreaks.

In New York State, approximately 30% of all college students are part-time. By requiring the immunization of all college students, post-secondary institutions would minimize the risk of an outbreak of vaccine preventable diseases, that otherwise would likely be spread throughout the community. Several post-secondary institutions have indicated that a uniform immunization requirement would also be easier to implement than the currently mandated system.

Prior legislative history

New Bill, but see A.10942A/S.8623 of 2008.

Fiscal implications

This bill will have no fiscal impact on the State.

Effective date

This act shall take effect August 1, 2011.