Bill Text: NY J00751 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2021, as Meningitis Awareness Month in the State of New York

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2021-05-11 - ADOPTED [J00751 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-J00751-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 751

BY: Senator RIVERA

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        June  2021,  as  Meningitis  Awareness  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
illnesses that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this  Legislative  Body  to  memorialize
Governor  Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2021, as Meningitis Awareness
Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with  the  observance  of
National Meningitis Month; 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, 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; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
memorialize   Governor  Andrew  M.  Cuomo  to  proclaim  June  2021,  as
Meningitis Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with
the observance of National Meningitis Month; 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.