Political Quotes

“as National Immunization Week approaches, I rise today to introduce legislation addressing childhood immunizations. National Immunization Week (April 17-21) recognizes one of the most powerful health care and public health achievements in this century. Remarkable advances in the science of vaccine development and widespread immunization efforts have led to a substantial reduction in the incidence of infectious disease. Today, vaccination coverage is at record high levels. Smallpox has been eradicated; polio has been eliminated from the Western Hemisphere; and measles and Hib invasive disease, the leading cause of childhood meningitis and postnatal retardation, have been reduced to record lows. The two bills I introduce today build on these successes. One proposal, "The State Immunization Funding and Infrastructure Act of 2000," ensures that state and local health departments are adequately funded to continue successful efforts to immunize children and improve their ability to reach pockets of underimmunized populations. The other, "The Comprehensive Insurance Coverage of Childhood Immunization Act of 2000," requires all health plans to cover recommended childhood and adolescent immunizations. In spite of our successes, we must remain vigilant. Every day, nearly 11,000 infants are born and each baby will need up to 19 doses of vaccine by age two. New vaccines continue to enter the market.”