10-R069
2010 -- H 7398
Enacted 02/04/10
H O U S E R E S
O L U T I O N
HONORING THE
RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO VOLUNTEERED
THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO WORK ON THE H1N1 SCHOOL CLINICS
Introduced
By: Representatives McNamara, Azzinaro,
Guthrie, Gallison, and
Date Introduced: February 04, 2010
WHEREAS, In the spring of 2009, the World Health Organization
confirmed a pandemic
due to the rapid spread of illness in so many countries
around the world caused by the H1N1
Influenza Virus; and
WHEREAS, The United
States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention supported the
effort to protect Americans by providing scientific
information on all aspects of H1N1 influenza
and additional resources for distributing prevention
messages; issued guidance for health care
workers, schools, childcare organizations, and businesses;
and prepared to supply the H1N1
vaccine for 200,000,000 Americans; and
WHEREAS, The Rhode
Island Department of Health (HEALTH), based on the most
current scientific information, applied skills learned
through Incident Command Training and
utilized the power of multiple communication channels. HEALTH,
assured of the willingness of
Rhode Islanders to assist with this major effort,
established a plan to prevent the spread of illness
through increased hand washing, cough/sneeze etiquette,
staying home when sick, and providing
the first vaccines available to those identified as at
high risk: children and pregnant women; and
WHEREAS, Vaccinating children and pregnant women would protect them
and help
reduce the spread of influenza to others. A comprehensive
approach was developed and
implemented to vaccinate the greatest number of children and pregnant
women as quickly as
possible; and
WHEREAS, HEALTH
recognized that the most efficient way to reach the majority of
school-aged children was through the school setting. HEALTH
engaged with partners who were
crucial to providing access to H1N1 Vaccine for 166,000
school-aged children at 421 school sites
in
WHEREAS, This plan was supported by partners who gave their time,
expertise, and full
cooperation, including
Education, Department of Children, Youth, and
Families, Emergency Management Agency,
Superintendents’ Association, Principals’ Association,
Certified School Nurse Teacher
Association, Medical Reserve Corps, and volunteers,
local Emergency Response personnel,
health providers, citizen volunteers, and the media;
and
WHEREAS, Certified
School Nurse Teachers played a multifaceted role, including
promoting prevention messages, managing illness at school
sites, assisting with outbreak
investigations, and planning for the school-based vaccine clinics
for the students; and
WHEREAS, These combined efforts greatly contributed to achievement of
the highest
level of childhood vaccine protection in the
influenza for all Rhode Islanders; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED,
That this House of Representatives of the State of
Providence Plantations
hereby honors and applauds the Rhode Island Department of Health and
its voluntary medical corps for the countless hours and
dedicated efforts to inoculate and help
keep the children and young people of
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is
authorized to transmit a
duly certified copy of this resolution to the Director of
the Rhode Island Department of Health.
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LC01272
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