[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 8] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 10533] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]A BILL TO AMEND TITLE 38, U.S.C., TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO THE IMMUNIZATION OF VETERANS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES ______ HON. CLIFF STEARNS of florida in the house of representatives Thursday, June 10, 2010 Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, today, I am introducing the ``Access to Appropriate Immunizations for Veterans Act of 2010'' which I believe would help advance the goal we all share of promoting lifelong health for the men and women who fought for our freedom. While the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, health care system is doing an admirable job of caring for those who bore the burden of combat, continual reform is needed to ensure the care veterans receive represents the most up-to-date practices and procedures. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, CDC, each year approximately 70,000 adult Americans die from vaccine- preventable diseases. Influenza alone is responsible for over one million ambulatory care visits, 200,000 hospitalizations and 30,000 deaths. Many of our veterans who are in the ``high-risk'' category of contracting vaccine-preventable diseases--including those with HIV, Hepatitis C, and substance use disorder--are enrolled in the VA health care system and could particularly benefit from receiving vaccinations. Commendably, the VA has protocols in place that recommend vaccines as protection against deadly viruses. However, VA only has established performance measures for two vaccines making it unclear if protocols are being routinely enforced for all CDC recommended vaccines. The tremendous value performance measures have regarding the increased utilization and effectiveness of vaccination distribution is evidenced by VA's own application of performance measures for the influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations. When these performance measures were initially applied, VA saw vaccination rates rise respectively from 27 percent and 26 percent to 77 percent and 80 percent. It also resulted in a 50 percent decline in pneumonia hospitalization rates. The legislation I am introducing today would expand VA performance measures to cover all vaccinations recommended by the VA and CDC and ensure that veterans receive appropriate immunizations at the time suggested by the CDC. It would also require VA to report to Congress on their progress in supporting vaccinations in the veteran population. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join with me in cosponsoring the Access to Appropriate Immunizations for Veterans Act of 2010. This legislation would ensure that our veterans are receiving timely and suitable access to vaccines and prevent those under the care of the VA from being unnecessarily exposed to vaccine preventable diseases. ____________________