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