NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A791C
SPONSOR: Gunther (MS) TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to meningococcal
immunizations
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill requires vaccination against meningococcal disease for seventh
graders and twelfth graders
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill requires immunization against meningococcal
disease for students entering, repeating or transferring into the
seventh and twelfth grades and adds meningococcal disease to the list of
school vaccination requirements.
Section 2 is the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
According to the CDC, roughly 1,000 - 1,200 people contract meningococ-
cal disease each year in the United States. Between ten and fifteen
percent of these cases are fatal. Eleven to nineteen percent of those
who survive will suffer from permanent hearing loss, developmental
delays, loss of limbs, or other serious conditions. This bill would
require meningococcal vaccinations for students entering the seventh and
twelfth grades. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP),
which provides advice and guidance to the Director of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommends a single dose of
vaccine be administered at age 11 or 12, and a booster at age 16.
Currently, more than 20 states require meningococcal vaccines.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2014: A9347/S7348 Referred to Health
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None noted. Health plans in the state of New York are required to cover
preventive and primary care services, including necessary immunizations.
Additionally, the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program is a federally
funded program that provides ACIP recommended vaccines at no cost to
children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of inability to
pay.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
