Hepatitis Prevention(16)

RESOLUTION 16:Hepatitus A Prevention

WHEREAS THE LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS (LULAC) supports the purpose of fostering and enlarging the opportunities for training, education, civil rights, job opportunities, housing, economic development, and welfare of all Hispanics in the United States; and,

WHEREAS, the Hepatitis A virus is a contagious viral infection of the liver that causes serious liver disease that may require hospitalization, can cause major complications including liver failure and death, results in substantial costs to society in increased medical care and work loss, and can last from several weeks to 3-4 months, and;

WHEREAS, the incidence of Hepatitis A disproportionately affects Hispanics as evidenced by 1992 Center for Disease Control study which reported an incidence rate of 17.6 per 100,000 among Hispanics, versus a rate of 7.5 per 100,000 in non-Hispanics, and is particularly of concern in states with high Hispanic populations, including the border states of California, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico as well as others, and;

WHEREAS, efforts to protect Hispanic populations against Hepatitis A infection through education, hand washing campaigns and immunization have had mixed results, with projects in some communities being very successful and others encountering significant obstacles, and;

WHEREAS, there is a safe vaccine available that has been proven to be more than 95% effective with minimal side effects and which can be safely and readily administered together with other vaccines given to school age children.

WHEREAS, all members of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus o the Texas State Legislature have written to Dr. William Reynolds Archer III, M.D., Texas Commissioner of Health, strongly supporting a school-entry vaccination requirement for Hepatitis A in counties that have high rates for the disease.

WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of Oklahoma has enacted legislation requiring immunization against hepatitis A as a condition of entering elementary school.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the 1998 National Assembly convened in Dallas, Texas on the 4th day of July, 1998:

1. Calls upon State Public health Departments to increase their efforts to eliminate Hepatitis A infection in Hispanic communities through outreach, education, and vaccination.

2. Encourages health officials to increase their efforts to educate Hispanics about Hepatitis A prevention and the safety of vaccines, and work to eliminate misunderstanding and lack of knowledge about the importance of these issues.

3. Urges the state legislatures, governors, and public health departments to enact a school entry requirement for Hepatitis A immunization.

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to all Governors, Legislative Leaders, Public Health Departments and Members of Congress throughout the United States.

Approved this 4th day of July, 1998.

Rick Dovalina
LULAC National President