SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6604

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

           Health & Long-Term Care, February 1, 1996

Title:  An act relating to immunization.

Brief Description:  Expanding the child profile system for immunization tracking and reminders.

Sponsors:  Senators Wojahn, Moyer, Winsley and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Health & Long-Term Care:  2/1/96 [DP-WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

  Signed by Senators Quigley, Chair; Wojahn, Vice Chair; Deccio, Fairley, Franklin, Moyer, Thibaudeau, Winsley and Wood.

Staff:  Wendy Saunders (786-7439)

Background:  Only 56 percent of Washington's children receive their recommended immunizations by age two.  From 1982 to 1992, there were almost 3,500 reported cases of vaccine preventable diseases in the state.

There is concern that parents are unaware of the importance of timely immunizations and do not know which immunizations their children have received.  It is suggested that doctors frequently do not know the immunization status of the children they treat, and miss opportunities for timely immunizations of their patients as a result off this lack of information.

There are currently child profile projects which keep track of immunizations in four counties in Washington.  It has been suggested that a statewide tracking and reminder system would be an important tool to achieve the goal set by the public health improvement plan of a 90 percent immunization rate for children by age two.

Summary of Bill:  The Legislature finds that ensuring that children receive timely immunizations is an important public health concern and that a statewide tracking and reminder system will help ensure that children are properly immunized. 

The Secretary of Health is required to develop a plan to analyze the progress of Washington's current child health profile projects and make recommendations to the Legislature about expanding  the project statewide.

Appropriation:  $360,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 1997 for current profile projects, and an unspecified amount for a statewide project.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 24, 1996.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  The four child profile projects have helped increase immunization rates to 74 percent.  Current funding for the projects ends in October.  Funding existing projects and expanding them statewide will result in healthy children and increased immunization rates in children.  Every dollar spent on immunization saves $14 in future health care costs.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Connie Michner, Candice Jacobs, Junior League; Cynthia Shurtliett, Immunization Advocacy Alliance.