BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2069
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2069 (Maienschein)
As Amended April 24, 2014
Majority vote
HEALTH 19-0 APPROPRIATIONS 16-0
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|Ayes:|Pan, Maienschein, |Ayes:|Gatto, Bigelow, |
| |Ammiano, Rendon, Bonilla, | |Bocanegra, Bradford, Ian |
| |Bonta, Ch�vez, Chesbro, | |Calderon, Campos, Eggman, |
| |Gomez, Gonzalez, | |Gomez, Holden, Jones, |
| |Roger Hern�ndez, | |Linder, Pan, Quirk, |
| |Lowenthal, Mansoor, | |Ridley-Thomas, Wagner, |
| |Nazarian, Waldron, | |Weber |
| |Patterson, Ridley-Thomas, | | |
| |Wagner, Wieckowski | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Requires the State Department of Public Health (DPH)
to post educational information regarding influenza (flu)
vaccinations on its Internet Web site. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires DPH to annually post educational information
regarding flu and the availability of flu vaccines on its
Internet Web site prior to the annual flu season, including,
but not limited to, all of the following:
a) The health benefits of a flu vaccine;
b) That flu vaccine may be a covered benefit for those with
health insurance coverage; and,
c) That flu vaccines may be available for a minimal fee to
those individuals who do not have health insurance
coverage.
2)Authorizes DPH to use additional available resources to
educate the public about flu vaccination, including public
service announcements, media events, public outreach to
individuals and groups who are susceptible to flu, and any
other preventive and wellness education efforts recommended by
public health officials.
AB 2069
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3)Makes various findings and declarations regarding the
importance of flu vaccination.
EXISTING LAW requires DPH to promptly identify, prevent, and
control infectious diseases that pose a threat to public health,
including emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases,
vaccine-preventable agents, bacterial toxins, bioterrorism, and
pandemics.
FISCAL EFFECT according to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, this bill would have minor and absorbable costs to
DPH.
COMMENTS : According to the author, this bill will provide
additional information to the public regarding the importance of
getting a flu vaccine. The author further states that
Sacramento County data shows that the majority of people
hospitalized or who died from the flu in 2013 had not been
immunized and that state officials have been quoted as saying
that unfortunately, people are becoming ill or dying because
they do not take advantage of available vaccines.
According to CDC estimates, the California rate of immunization
was below the national average during each of the last four flu
seasons for individuals age six months and older.
1)2009-10 season: National average: 41.2%. California
average: 36.9%;
2)2010-11 season: National average: 43%. California average:
38.9%;
3)2011-12 season: National average: 41.8%. California
average: 40.5%; and,
4)2012-13 season: National average: 45%. California average:
44.2%.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees, AFL-CIO (AFSCME) states this bill would help
hospitals combat the flu by educating discharged patients about
the vaccine available to protect them from contracting the
virus. AFSCME also notes, given the level of misdirected
hysteria surrounding the use of vaccinations, it would benefit
AB 2069
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patients to have access to information regarding the advantages
of vaccinating against preventable ailments. The California
Children's Hospital Association also supports this bill and says
they believe educating the public on the availability of
vaccinations that can prevent a potentially deadly virus
infection is a critical component in reducing the severity of
the annual flu season.
AB 689 (Bonta) of 2013, would have required each general acute
care hospital to offer an onsite flu vaccine annually to all
patients prior to discharge, as specified, and required
hospitals to inform patients they may be required to pay for the
vaccination.
Analysis Prepared by : Lara Flynn / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097
FN: 0003293