STAND. COM. REP. NO. 556

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 514

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 514 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Authorize pharmacists to administer the human papillomavirus vaccine to persons between eleven and seventeen years of age; and

 

     (2)  Specify requirements pharmacists must meet prior to administering the human papillomavirus vaccine.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Board of Pharmacy; American Association of University Women – Hawaii; Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo; Hawaii Pharmacists Association; American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii; Hawaii Women's Coalition; Hawaii Immunization Coalition; Hawaii Public Health Institute; Hawaii Medical Service Association; Walgreens Company; CVS Health; Epic Interventions, LLC; and forty-nine individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from six individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that the human papillomavirus is a very common virus.  According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 79,000,000 people in the United States are currently infected, with about 14,000,000 people becoming infected each year.  Human papillomavirus infection can cause cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers in women; penile cancer in men; and anal cancer, cancer of the throat, and genital warts in both men and women.  Although there is no cure for human papillomavirus, human papillomavirus vaccination can prevent most of these cancers from occurring.

 

     Your Committee further finds that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend routine vaccination with the human papillomavirus vaccine for preteen boys and girls so they are protected prior to any exposure to the virus.  However, recent data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that human papillomavirus vaccination rates trail behind other teen vaccines, in part because the two-part vaccination requires a booster to complete the vaccination series.

 

     According to testimony received by your Committee, as of 2015, twenty-three states allowed pharmacists to immunize in all ages for human papillomavirus.  This measure enables pharmacists to administer the human papillomavirus vaccine to persons between eleven and seventeen years of age, which will expand access to this important vaccine and help reduce the incidence of human papillomavirus and the associated risk of cancers.  Your Committee notes that a pharmacist may administer vaccines to adolescents only pursuant to a valid prescription and must meet specific training requirements prior to administering any human papillomavirus vaccine to persons between the ages of eleven and seventeen.  Your Committee also notes that pharmacists who have completed the initial pharmacy-based immunization delivery continuing education course are listed on the Board of Pharmacy's webpage.

 

     Your Committee additionally finds that in addition to the human papillomavirus vaccine, three other vaccines, including the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis), meningococcal, and influenza vaccines, make up what is known as the "Adolescent Platform", a series of shots recommended for adolescents between the ages of eleven and twelve.  Amendments to this measure are therefore necessary to ensure pharmacists can administer these additional vaccinations to persons between eleven and seventeen years of age.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that pharmacists are authorized to administer the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis), meningococcal, and influenza vaccines, in addition to the human papillomavirus vaccine, to persons between eleven and seventeen years of age; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 514, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 514, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

 

 

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair