H-1842.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2199

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Representatives Boldt, Cody and Campbell

Read first time 02/18/1999.  Referred to Committee on Health Care.

Establishing a hepatitis A vaccination plan.

    AN ACT Relating to hepatitis A vaccine; and adding a new section to chapter 43.70 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 43.70 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The legislature finds that:

    (a) Hepatitis A, a viral infection of the liver, is a serious disease to which the severity increases with age;

    (b) Transmission is highly variable spreading from person to person directly or through contaminated food;

    (c) The most effective means of preventing hepatitis A is through universal immunization;

    (d) Washington state's high rate of hepatitis A places it as one of the top ten states in the nation; and

    (e) The centers for disease control have established a vaccine program that is without cost to states with such high rates of hepatitis A.

    (2) The department is directed to present a hepatitis A vaccination plan, and seek funding for such a plan through the centers for disease control's vaccination for children program, which may not require state funding.  If the department receives funding through the centers for disease control, it shall promptly implement a vaccination program that is consistent with the centers for disease control's requirements.

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