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House Health Committee advances bill to lower offered age for flu vaccine and add pneumococcal, RSV offers
Summary
The House Health Committee voted to report House Bill 23‑78 as amended after adopting an amendment that would lower the age at which residents are offered the flu vaccine from 65 to 50, add an offer of pneumococcal vaccine to those 50 and older, and offer RSV vaccine to people 75 and older; the amendment passed 25–1.
The House Health Committee on the motion of its chairs adopted an amendment to House Bill 23‑78 that lowers the age at which patients in health‑care settings must be offered the influenza vaccine from 65 to 50 and expands the bill to require offers of pneumococcal vaccine to anyone 50 and older and RSV vaccine to anyone 75 and older.
Committee staff member Erica explained the bill and the amendment, saying the changes align offers in health‑care settings with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. "House bill 23‑78 lowers the age at which a person in a health care facility or under a provider's ongoing care would be offered the flu vaccine," Erica said; the amendment would also add pneumococcal and RSV offers.
Why it matters: Committee leaders framed the measure as a public‑health step to reduce serious respiratory illness and hospitalizations among older adults. Chair Frankel argued the change is intended to "reduce morbidity and mortality from respiratory illnesses," and Rep Rapp stressed that the bill "does not require a patient to get a vaccine, but rather it requires the practitioner to offer specific vaccines when a patient reaches a certain age." Rep Khan, a health‑care provider, said offering vaccines increases access for people who want them.
The committee adopted amendment A03661 by voice and recorded roll call, which the clerk reported as 25 in favor and 1 opposed; Rep Borowitz was recorded as the lone no. The committee then voted to report House Bill 23‑78 as amended (roll call shown as 25–1). The transcript shows members discussing implementation, emphasizing patient choice and practitioner responsibility.
The committee recorded the amendment’s adoption and the bill as "reported as amended." The transcript does not record additional implementation details such as timelines for outreach or reporting requirements beyond the amendment’s vaccine‑offer ages.
Next steps: The measure will be reported out of committee to the next legislative stage consistent with chamber procedures.
