ACR181

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman GABRIELA M. MOSQUERA

District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)

SYNOPSIS

Urges CDC to include monoclonal antibodies for respiratory syncytial virus within Vaccines for Children program.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As introduced.

A Concurrent Resolution urging the CDC to include monoclonal antibodies for respiratory syncytial virus within the Vaccines for Children.

Whereas, Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly transmissible, seasonal virus that may cause severe and unpredictable outcomes for infants, including hospitalization; and

Whereas, Nearly all children will be infected with RSV by age two; and

Whereas, RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization among infants in the United States; and

Whereas, Most infants requiring hospitalization for RSV were previously healthy; and

Whereas, RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children younger than one year of age in the United States; and

Whereas, RSV disproportionally affects infants with Medicaid coverage, Native Americans, and Alaskan Natives; and

Whereas, The current RSV season has resulted in significant morbidity and increased mortality; and

Whereas, Monoclonal antibodies show promise as a form 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 ensuring equity in access to preventative care by making vaccines widely available regardless of insurance status or income level; and

Whereas, The Legislature respectfully urges the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to include monoclonal antibodies for RSV within the federal VFC program; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

1. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urged to include monoclonal antibodies for respiratory syncytial virus within the federal Vaccines for Children program.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of State to the Director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and each member of the United States Congress elected from this State.

STATEMENT

This resolution urges the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to include monoclonal antibodies for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) within the federal Vaccines for Children (VCF) program.

RSV is a highly transmissible, seasonal virus which may have severe and unpredictable outcomes for infants, including hospitalization. Monoclonal antibodies show promise as a form of preventative protection against RSV. The 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. It is the sentiment of the Legislature that including monoclonal antibodies for RSV in the VFC program will help ensure infants and young children have access to preventative treatment against RSV.