Duckworth co-sponsors legislation supporting vaccination use

Rep. Tammy Duckworth | The Office of Rep. Tammy Duckworth

By Mark Reccek

Feb 18, 2015

U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) joined fellow lawmakers in supporting the Vaccines Save Lives Resolution on Tuesday.

Duckworth co-sponsored the resolution along with Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Charles Dent (R-PA), Peter Welch (D-VT) and Tom Marino (R-PA) to remind Americans of the importance of receiving vaccinations.

"Growing up overseas, and with my previous work at Rotary International, I saw firsthand the horrible health issues that stemmed from measles and many other diseases," Duckworth said. “I’m proud to co-sponsor the Vaccines Save Lives Resolution because we need to send a clear message to the American people that vaccinations and immunizations are crucial to both individual and public health in the United States."

Vaccines have eradicated smallpox and polio, saving 10 million lives annually, according to the resolution. They also have reduced the spread of diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, shingles, influenza, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningococcal disease, pneumococcal, rotavirus and whooping cough (pertussis).

"High vaccination rates in the United States protect our citizens from contracting vaccine-preventable diseases that are pandemic in countries with low vaccination and immunization rates," the resolution states.

In addition to saving lives, vaccines have saved approximately $295 billion in direct costs and $1.38 trillion in societal costs in the U.S.

The resolution comes in the wake of a recent measles outbreak in the U.S. that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said originated with one unvaccinated child visiting Disneyland while he had measles.

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U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)

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