Public+Policy+-+Infectious+Disease


 * Infectious Disease**

Texas Policy on Vaccinations to Prevent Infectious Diseases

Some people wonder if vaccines are truly necessary in the 21st century. The answer in yes. I will present several reasons why we still need vaccinations, policy on current vaccine policy, and new policy implemented during the 81st Texas Legislature Session.

Vaccines are used worldwide to prevent infectious diseases and possible epidemics caused by them. Vaccines are relatively cheap and serve to prevent illness, disability, and death caused by or associated with infectious diseases. Vaccines are made with live or weakened viruses, dead or inactive viruses, also know as antigens. When antigens enter the human body our immune system responds by making antibodies. These antibodies are the key to immunity. They are stored in our body for future attacks of the same antigen and will quickly and usually without notice from us eliminate all threat from the virus. When we are vaccinated we become immune to that disease and can not pass it to anyone else or become infected.

The United States has been successful in eradicating infectious diseases through vaccines. One of the reasons we have had success is our national and state policies that are in place. A great example of an infectious disease eradicated by the use of vaccinations is smallpox. In the 20th century smallpox claimed over 300 million lives. Worldwide efforts reduced new infections from 50 million in 1950 to 10-15 million in 1967. The last person to naturally contract smallpox was in 1978. Other diseases that could potentially be eradicated worldwide are polio, measles, diphtheria, and tuberculosis.

This year updated recommendations for vaccines of school aged children and adolescents were released by the Center for Disease and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians with the help of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The ACIP is a group of 15 experts in the immunization field. The Secretary of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services selects the 15 ACIP members. Their jobs are to make written recommendations on the administration of vaccines and guidelines for vaccine-preventable diseases. It is the only federal government agency able to do this.

Every year the ACIP releases recommendations, the states and federal government use them for budget planning, and the states departments of health use them to plan immunization requirements for the upcoming school year. States are not legally required to follow the recommendations set by ACIP, however, the Executive Commissioner on Texas Health and Human Services decided to update state policy and follow ACIP and CDC recommendations.

The Texas Department of State Health Services notified schools and physicians by letter on March 6, 2009 of the state requirement changes for vaccines. On August 1, 2009 students statewide will be required to follow the new state immunization schedule. Five additional vaccination requirements were added as well. Only the Executive Commissioner on Texas Health and Human Services can make changes to school policy on immunization requirements. These requirements apply to all students in elementary and secondary school. Immunization records have to be shown at the time of enrollment. Records accepted included documents from physicians or health provider, an official copy from the state or local health department, and records from other schools.

Texas Public Health Coalition is a group of 21 nonprofit organizations in Texas. They represent thousands of public health professionals in the state of Texas. This year the Texas Public Health Coalition contributed legislation to improve immunizations and help prevent the spread of disease. According to the CDC, 77% of Texas children 19-35 months of age are completely immunized. Texas is ranked 22nd in the nation in this regard. However, some problems still exist with immunization. For example, 13,000 new cases of vaccine preventable diseases were reported in the year 2007.

The Texas Public Health Coalition recommended several innovative ideas in regards to state immunization. The TPHC gave their full support to Senator Jane Nelson this past 81st Texas Legislature Session.. She introduced several bills concerning vaccinations for Texas. Senate bill 1328 was one of the bills backed by the TPHC. It was passed into law and will allow studies on providing vaccines to first responders and their family members because they are often exposed to disaster areas. The potential for coming into contact with infectious diseases increases in situations with contaminated water, blood, injuries from contaminated metal, and other unknown conditions. The DSHS will conduct the study on the possibility of workplace immunizations and funding.

Senator Nelson filed Senate Bill 347 and it was passed into law. The SB 347 will allow immunization records for children to easily transfer to other states if they are relocated due to a natural disaster or other state emergencies. When a state disaster occurs records will be released to emergency personal as well.

Senator Nelson filed Senate Bill 346 and it was passed into law. SB 346 pertains to information maintained by Texas’s immunization registry. The registry, ImmTrac, will give parents the option of maintaining immunization records past the child’s 18th birthday. This new law will allow for lifelong immunization records on individuals.

Governor Rick Perry signed into law HB 1409 by Representative Chuck Hopson. The new law allows pharmacist to administer influenza vaccinations to children older than 7 years of age. The CDC recommends children 6 months to 18 years receive the influenza vaccination yearly. HB 1409 allows more children to have access to the influenza vaccination.

Senator Leticia Van De Putte proposed vaccination policy in Senate Bill 424. Unfortunately, the bill was not passed into law. It would have allowed a study for school based influenza vaccinations. An appointed board would have made recommendations and guidelines for administering the vaccine in a school setting. The bill passed both Senate and House but was not signed into law. In light of the Swine flu, I am sure we will be seeing this bill soon and I hope it will pass the next time around.

In conclusion, I believe Texas continues down the path to keeping our state as free from infectious diseases as possible. Although we may never be completely rid of life threatening diseases, Texas is doing its part to reduce to spread of them.