New York J 843: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 2025, as Meningitis B Awareness Month in the State of New York

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J00843 Summary:

BILL NOJ00843 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORRIVERA

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Go to top J00843 Actions:

BILL NOJ00843 

&nbsp

04/22/2025REFERRED TO FINANCE

04/29/2025REPORTED TO CALENDAR FOR CONSIDERATION

04/29/2025ADOPTED

Go to topJ00843 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topJ00843 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topJ00843 Text:

Senate Resolution No. 843

BY: Senator RIVERA

 MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
 June 2025, as Meningitis B Awareness Month in the
 State of New York

 WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to increase
awareness of serious illnesses that affect the lives of our citizens;
and

 WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize
Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 2025, as Meningitis B Awareness
in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National
Meningitis Month; and

 WHEREAS, Meningococcal disease, more commonly referred to as
bacterial meningitis, is any infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria
meningitidis; and

 WHEREAS, Meningococcal disease is uncommon; however, when it
strikes, its flu-like symptoms make diagnosis difficult; and

 WHEREAS, Meningococcal disease can cause serious illness such as
infection of the lining of the brain and spinal column (meningitis) or
blood infections (sepsis); the disease strikes quickly and can lead to
severe or permanent disabilities, such as hearing loss, brain damage,
seizures, limb amputation or even lead to death within 24-48 hours; and

 WHEREAS, Although 1 in 10 people are carriers for this bacteria with
no signs or symptoms of disease, sometimes Neisseria meningitidis
bacteria can cause illness; and

 WHEREAS, There are different strains of bacterial meningitis,
including serogroups A, C, W, Y, and B, and vaccines exist to help
provide protection against all the serogroups commonly seen in the
United States; and

 WHEREAS, The single best way to help prevent all common strains of
meningococcal disease is to be vaccinated with both a MenACWY vaccine
and a separate MenB vaccine; and

 WHEREAS, Meningococcal disease is spread from person to person via
the exchange of the bacteria through respiratory and throat secretions
during close or lengthy contact, such as sharing beverages or eating
utensils, kissing, or spending time in close contact with someone who is
sick or who carries the bacteria; and

 WHEREAS, Community settings in which large groups of people gather,
like college campuses, can increase the risk of the spread of
meningococcal disease; and

 WHEREAS, Because of the way meningitis is spread, through close
personal contact, and that the social behavior of young adults ages
16-23 increases their risk of contracting the disease; students in

dormitory settings and crowded events, are particularly vulnerable to
meningococcal disease; and

 WHEREAS, While vaccines for serogroups A, C, W, and Y have been
available for many years, prior to 2014, there were no vaccines
available for serogroup B; and

 WHEREAS, Despite the existence of a serogroup B vaccine, meningitis
B has been responsible for all U.S. college campus outbreaks since 2011,
with some cases resulting in death; and

 WHEREAS, Because the B strain of meningitis requires a new, separate
vaccination, students heading to college may mistakenly think that if
they received the MenACWY vaccine that they are protected against all
strains and may not realize they are not protected against the B strain;
and

 WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control, Neisseria
meningitidis serogroup B accounts for approximately half of all
meningococcal cases among persons aged 16-23 years in the U.S.; and

 WHEREAS, Vaccination for serogroups A, C, W and Y is routinely
recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and

 WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that decisions to
vaccinate adolescents and young adults 16 through 23 years of age
against serogroup B meningococcal disease should be made at the
individual level with health care providers through shared clinical
decision making; and

 WHEREAS, In accordance with ACIP recomm