GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 796*

Short Title:  Children's Vaccine Funds.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Alexander; Adams, Black, Buchanan, Church, Dickson, Gamble, Hill, Hurley, Locke, Luebke, McCrary, G. Miller, Richardson, Watson, Wilkins and G. Wilson.

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Referred to:  Appropriations, Subcommittee on Natural & Economic Resources.

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April 10, 1995

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO PROVIDE VACCINE FOR IMMUNIZING CHILDREN AGAINST CHICKEN POX.
Whereas, nationally, chicken pox affects approximately 4 million people annually; and
Whereas, one in every 400 persons who gets chicken pox requires hospitalization, and as many as 90 deaths from chicken pox occur nationally each year; and
Whereas, 90% of chicken pox cases occur in children under the age of 15 years; and
Whereas, a new FDA-licensed vaccine is available and will be recommended for the prevention of chicken pox when routinely administered to all healthy children between the ages of 12-18 months; and
Whereas, nationally, the annual cost of care for healthy children who contract chicken pox is estimated to be $918,000,000 (1993 dollars); and
Whereas, cost-benefit savings in direct (medical and hospital) and indirect (loss of work by parent) costs are estimated to be $5.00 for each $1.00 spent on routine childhood immunization for chicken pox; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources the sum of nine hundred eighty-seven thousand five hundred twenty-five dollars ($987,525) for the 1995-96 fiscal year and the sum of one million seventeen thousand two hundred nineteen dollars ($1,017,219) for the 1996-97 fiscal year for the purchase of varicella vaccine for routine administration to children.
Sec. 2. This act becomes effective July 1, 1995.