CCIC 2004 Legislative Accomplishments
Along with support for broader legislation affecting children’s health and access to care, CCIC accomplished immunization-specific legislation ensuring greater resources and tools for ensuring the health of Colorado’s communities.
Together with the Department of Public Health and Environment, child health advocates were successful in securing a Budget Request for approximately $500,000 in the FY 04/05 budget for immunization priorities in Colorado. Colorado is currently 50th in the nation for properly immunizing our children in the age group 0-2. The efforts funded by the 2005 budget are important in boosting our numbers and reaching children and families who are most at-risk. Specifically, the decision item includes:
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$390,500 to expand the capacity of community clinics for delivering immunizations to local children.
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$81,528 to create an infrastructure to conduct an ongoing needs assessment of the immunization problem across the state.
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$25,000 for the launch of a public information campaign directed at parents to emphasize and educate them on the importance of immunizations
Colleges required to provide warning about risk of Meningitis
SB 04-57 requires all Colorado institutes of higher education to comply with a uniform standard for the provision of information to a targeted student population concerning the dangers of meningitis and the availability of a proven efficacious vaccine to prevent it. Currently the information provided on this matter varies widely.
SB 04-57 also requires an action by those receiving the information to acknowledge reviewing the information and if they are not going to get a vaccination against meningococcal disease.
The CCIC supported SB 04-57 as good public policy to advise individuals who maybe at risk for any preventable illness or disease of measures to avoid the risk. Meningitis is a serious disease that causes significant morbidity. There is a safe and effective vaccine that prevents the disease.
