Senate Bill sb2050

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    Florida Senate - 2004        (NP)                      SR 2050

    By Senator Peaden





    2-1597-04

  1                    Senate Resolution No. ____

  2         A resolution recommending increased funding at

  3         the state and federal levels for hepatitis

  4         prevention and treatment.

  5  

  6         WHEREAS, three hepatitis viruses, hepatitis A,

  7  hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, cause significant morbidity and

  8  mortality in Florida, and

  9         WHEREAS, an estimated 4 million people in the United

10  States are infected with hepatitis C, and

11         WHEREAS, an estimated 1.25 million persons are

12  chronically infected with hepatitis B in the United States,

13  and

14         WHEREAS, hepatitis A continues to be one of the most

15  frequently reported vaccine-preventable diseases in the United

16  States, and

17         WHEREAS, an estimated 270,000 Floridians are currently

18  infected with hepatitis C and most are unaware of their

19  infection, and

20         WHEREAS, if left undetected, hepatitis B and C can lead

21  to cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure, or death, and

22         WHEREAS, the Hepatitis and Liver Failure Prevention and

23  Control Program of the Department of Health has integrated

24  with other public health and private providers to enhance

25  hepatitis prevention and control, and

26         WHEREAS, hepatitis A and hepatitis B are preventable by

27  vaccination, and

28         WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

29  recommends that adults at increased risk for infection or

30  serious consequences of infection receive vaccination for

31  hepatitis A and hepatitis B to prevent infection and improve

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    Florida Senate - 2004        (NP)                      SR 2050
    2-1597-04




 1  health, and recommends that adults at increased risk for

 2  infection and or serious consequences of infection receive

 3  testing for hepatitis B and hepatitis C to become aware of

 4  their status, to prevent disease transmission, and to improve

 5  health, and

 6         WHEREAS, key medical organizations are now stating that

 7  the federal and state governments have important roles in

 8  supporting not only vaccine purchase, but also in creating

 9  infrastructure that can further expand and appropriately

10  handle more aggressive national immunization goals, and

11         WHEREAS, these organizations have recommended that the

12  federal and state governments need additional funds to

13  purchase vaccines for the uninsured and underinsured adult

14  populations, and

15         WHEREAS, Florida has adopted such national immunization

16  goals along with additional goals of increasing the testing

17  available to adults at high risk for hepatitis C, and

18         WHEREAS, identification of hepatitis C-infected persons

19  through laboratory testing allows for counseling to prevent

20  further spread of the disease, along with vaccination against

21  hepatitis A and B, which can cause additional liver damage,

22  and

23         WHEREAS, persons with acute or chronic viral hepatitis

24  can experience improved quality and length of life from

25  education, social support, and medical referral, NOW,

26  THEREFORE,

27  

28  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

29  

30         That the Senate supports the prevention and control of

31  viral hepatitis through the following measures;

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    Florida Senate - 2004        (NP)                      SR 2050
    2-1597-04




 1         1.  Implementing prevention and education activities by

 2  state and local public health programs to counsel and screen

 3  all persons at risk for viral hepatitis;

 4         2.  Purchasing and distributing hepatitis A and

 5  hepatitis B vaccines to immunize adult residents at increased

 6  risk for hepatitis infection or the serious consequences of

 7  infection;

 8         3.  Using both pediatric and adult hepatitis B vaccine

 9  and other prevention services to immunize all children and

10  adults at increased risk, thereby eliminating transmission of

11  hepatitis B in the state;

12         4.  Ensuring surveillance and evaluation of the

13  infection rates of hepatitis A, B, and C;

14         5.  Implementing programs to educate all healthcare

15  providers about diagnosis, medical management, and prevention

16  of viral hepatitis; and

17         6.  Enhancing the social support and medical referral

18  services available to state residents infected with viral

19  hepatitis.

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