House Concurrent Resolution 50

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION TO INCLUDE NEW IMMUNIZATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS IN THE VACCINES FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM.

WHEREAS, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a highly transmissible, seasonal virus which may have severe and unpredictable outcomes for infants, is the leading cause of hospitalization among infants in the United States; and

WHEREAS, RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) in children younger than one year of age in the United States; and

WHEREAS, the current RSV season has resulted in significant morbidity and increased mortality; and

WHEREAS, monoclonal antibodies for RSV show promise of preventative protection against RSV; and

WHEREAS, the Vaccines For Children (VFC) program is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of inability to pay; and

WHEREAS, VFC coverage is critical to ensure equity and access for all infants in order to have the greatest impact on disease burden:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby urge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to include new RSV immunization technologies, including vaccines and monoclonal antibodies, within the federal VFC program if the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues administrative recommendations that are subsequently approved by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services; the public welfare requiring it; and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.