§ 25-4-2402 — Legislative declaration

Colorado § 25-4-2402

• Jurisdiction: Colorado
• Title 25: Public
• Art.: Disease Control

Text

(1) The general assembly hereby finds
and declares that:

(a) Immunization is one of the most important ways to protect individuals and
communities against serious infectious diseases and their consequences, and
widespread immunization has virtually eliminated many serious diseases that were
once responsible for millions of infections and thousands of deaths each year.

(b) Although immunization rates of infants, children, adolescents, and adults
in Colorado have improved over the last several years, there is a need to continue to
improve the rates so that fewer individuals are put at risk from vaccine-preventable
diseases.

(c) Timely vaccination of children, adolescents, and adults not only protects
them against common, sometimes serious, and potentially fatal diseases, but also
serves the community as one of the most successful and cost-effective public
health tools available for the prevention and spread of these infections, and the
vaccines are safe and highly protective, particularly when administered according
to recommended schedules.

(d) More than twenty percent of preschool-aged children in Colorado are not
fully vaccinated and are at increased risk of contracting and spreading vaccine-preventable diseases.

(e) It is unnecessary for children, adolescents, and adults to be subjected to
suffering or death from diseases that are immunization preventable.

(f) In 2005, hospital charges for the care of children with vaccine-preventable diseases exceeded twenty-five million dollars. Additionally, tens of
millions of dollars were spent on the costs of the outpatient care of affected
children, in addition to the costs of the loss of productivity and absences from work
for caregivers due to the absences of children from school.

(g) Over the past three decades, the recommended vaccination schedules for
children and adults have become increasingly more complex as vaccines have been
combined, new vaccines have been added, and the delivery system has
incorporated more manufacturers, distributors, and providers. Additionally, local
and national vaccine shortages and distribution errors have resulted in
compromised vaccination initiatives.

(h) For Colorado to be consistent with the healthy people 2010 initiative and
reach the goal of immunizing ninety percent of all children in the state in a timely
and expeditious manner, the Colorado immunization information system must be
funded and sustained. The Colorado immunization information system may also
provide a secure method for authorized individuals and entities to access
information collected by public agencies.

(2) Therefore, the general assembly supports the expansion of the Colorado
immunization registry and supports increased access to immunizations for persons
in Colorado.

Legislative History

Source: L. 2007: Entire part added, p. 659, � 6, effective April 26.