Declare Adult Vaccine Awareness Month

Assembly Resolution No. 1403 BY: M. of A. Rules (Gunther) MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim August 2018, as Adult Vaccine Preventable Disease Awareness and Improvement Month in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official months that are set aside to increase awareness of serious health issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim August 2018, as Adult Vaccine Preventable Disease Awareness and Improvement Month in the State of New York; and WHEREAS, Vaccines have aided in reducing the burden of widespread and often fatal diseases, enabling individuals to lead longer and healthier lives while reducing health care costs; and WHEREAS, Although much attention has been paid to the importance of childhood vaccinations, there is a general lack of awareness of adult recommended vaccines among adults and a misperception that adult immunizations are unnecessary for the healthy; and WHEREAS, Adult Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPDs), including diseases such as influenza and pneumonia, are a critical public health issue in the United States; and WHEREAS, Influenza and pneumonia represent the seventh leading cause of death among U.S. adults aged 65 years or older; and WHEREAS, As the population across the United States continues to age, the impact of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases on adults will likely increase; and WHEREAS, Vaccine-Preventable Diseases can result in complications for adults with chronic conditions, including long-term illness, hospitalization, and death; and WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommends a variety of vaccines for adults aged 18 and older, including some recommendations that are universal and others that are targeted to individuals of a certain age, with specific risk factors, or who may have missed certain childhood vaccines; and WHEREAS, The CDC has consistently seen adult vaccination compliance fall below targets, and aims to increase compliance for influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination in adults as a part of its Healthy People 2020 goals; and WHEREAS, Increasing adult immunization requires a commitment from health care providers and the Department of Health to recommend appropriate immunizations to adult patients so that they understand the importance of adult immunization, and to provide appropriate education to providers to raise awareness about the importance of this effort; and WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater awareness of this serious health issue, and more must be done to increase activity at the local, State and National levels; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim August 2018, as Adult Vaccine Preventable Disease Awareness and Improvement Month in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.