 
Senate Resolution No. 2357
 
BY: Senator RIVERA
 
        RECOGNIZING  June  2020, as Meningitis B Awareness
        Month
 
  WHEREAS, It is the custom  of  this  Legislative  Body  to  increase
awareness  of  serious  illnesses that affect the lives of our citizens;
and
 
  WHEREAS,  Meningococcal  disease,  more  commonly  referred  to   as
bacterial meningitis, is any infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria
meningitidis; and
 
  WHEREAS,   Meningococcal  disease  is  uncommon;  however,  when  it
strikes, its flu-like symptoms make diagnosis difficult; and
 
  WHEREAS, Meningococcal disease can cause  serious  illness  such  as
infection  of  the lining of the brain and spinal column (meningitis) or
blood infections (sepsis); the disease strikes quickly and can  lead  to
severe  or  permanent  disabilities, such as hearing loss, brain damage,
seizures, limb amputation or even lead to death within 24-48 hours; and
 
  WHEREAS, Although 1 in 10 people are carriers for this bacteria with
no signs  or  symptoms  of  disease,  sometimes  Neisseria  meningitidis
bacteria can cause illness; and
 
  WHEREAS,  There  are  different  strains  of  bacterial  meningitis,
including serogroups A, C, W, Y, and  B,  and  vaccines  exist  to  help
provide  protection  against  all  the  serogroups  commonly seen in the
United States; and
 
  WHEREAS, The single best way to help prevent all common  strains  of
meningococcal  disease  is  to be vaccinated with both a MenACWY vaccine
and a separate MenB vaccine; and
 
  WHEREAS, Meningococcal disease is spread from person to  person  via
the  exchange  of the bacteria through respiratory and throat secretions
during close or lengthy contact, such as  sharing  beverages  or  eating
utensils, kissing, or spending time in close contact with someone who is
sick or who carries the bacteria; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Community settings in which large groups of people gather,
like  college  campuses,  can  increase  the  risk  of  the  spread   of
meningococcal disease; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Because  of  the  way  meningitis is spread, through close
personal contact, and that the social  behavior  of  young  adults  ages
17-23  increases  their  risk  of  contracting  the disease; students in
dormitory settings and crowded events, are  particularly  vulnerable  to
meningococcal disease; and
 
  WHEREAS,  While  vaccines  for  serogroups  A, C, W, and Y have been
available for  many  years,  prior  to  2014,  there  were  no  vaccines
available for serogroup B; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Despite the existence of a serogroup B vaccine, meningitis
B has been responsible for all U.S. college campus outbreaks since 2011,
with some cases resulting in death; and
 
  WHEREAS, Because the B strain of meningitis requires a new, separate
vaccination,  students  heading  to college may mistakenly think that if
they received the MenACWY vaccine that they are  protected  against  all
strains and may not realize they are not protected against the B strain;
and
 
  WHEREAS,  According  to  the  Centers for Disease Control, Neisseria
meningitidis  serogroup  B  accounts  for  approximately  half  of   all
meningococcal cases among persons aged 17-23 years in the U.S.; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Vaccination  for  serogroups  A,  C,  W and Y is routinely
recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and
 
  WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and  Prevention's  Advisory
Committee   on  Immunization  Practices  recommends  that  decisions  to
vaccinate adolescents and young  adults  16  through  23  years  of  age
against  serogroup  B  meningococcal  disease  should  be  made  at  the
individual level with health care providers; and
 
  WHEREAS, In accordance with ACIP recommendations, Chapter 401 of the
Laws of 2015, required that as of September 1, 2016,  children  entering
grades 7, 8 and 12 be immunized against meningococcal disease strains A,
C, W, and Y; and
 
  WHEREAS,  New York State Public Health Law (NYS PHL) § 2167 requires
institutions,  including  colleges  and  universities,   to   distribute
information  about meningococcal disease and vaccination to all students
meeting the enrollment criteria, whether they live on or off campus; and
 
  WHEREAS, While New York  State  Law  does  not  require  vaccination
against  serogroup  B meningococcal disease, young adults aged 16-23 may
choose to receive the MenB vaccine series, and are encouraged to discuss
the MenB vaccine with a healthcare provider; and
 
  WHEREAS, Meningitis vaccines  are  covered  by  public  and  private
insurance  plans, and individuals are encouraged to contact their health
insurance plan to determine coverage of MenACWY and MenB vaccines; and
 
  WHEREAS, The federal Vaccines for Children (VFC)  and  NYS  Vaccines
for  Adults (VFA) programs will cover both MenACWY and MenB vaccines for
children and adults  who  have  no  health  insurance  or  whose  health
insurance  does  not  cover these vaccines, as well as for children less
than 19 years of age  who  are  American  Indian  or  Alaska  Native  or
eligible for Medicaid or Child Health Plus; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Kimberly  Coffey  was  17 and a high school senior on Long
Island, when she died from meningitis B  in  2012  before  meningitis  B
vaccines were available in the United States; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Kimberly's  mother,  Patti  Wukovits,  R.N.,  created  the
Kimberly Coffey Foundation and today, this  vital  organization  remains
true to its mission in providing education to the public and health care
professionals  about  meningococcal disease and advocating for two types
of meningococcal vaccination; and
 
 
  WHEREAS,  The Kimberly Coffey Foundation's goal is to ensure that no
other family will endure the loss  of  a  child  or  have  a  loved  one
experience the devastating effects of meningococcal disease; and
 
  WHEREAS,  June  15,  2020,  marks the eighth anniversary of Kimberly
Coffey's death; and
 
  WHEREAS, Students, parents, educators and health care providers need
to know about all strains of meningitis and how to protect  against  all
strains; and
 
  WHEREAS,  A Meningococcal Disease Fact Sheet is available on the New
York State Department of Health website; and
 
  WHEREAS, June is a time when students are preparing to go to college
and can discuss how to become fully vaccinated with  their  health  care
provider; now, therefore, be it
 
  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
recognize June 2020, as Meningitis B Awareness Month; and be it further
 
  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to Patti Wukovits, R.N., Executive Director of the Kimberly
Coffey Foundation.
Recognizing June 2020, as Meningitis B Awareness Month

What's Happening

Why It Matters
