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COUNTY MICHIGAN
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
November 10, 2021
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #21-442
Sponsored By: Kristen Nelson, Angela Powell, Janet Jackson
IN RE: Support of the Protecting Seniors Through Immunization Act of 2021
Chairperson and Members of the Board:
WHEREAS immunizations are one of the greatest medical advances in human history; and
WHEREAS vaccines have essentially eradicated deadly and debilitating diseases, such as measles, chickenpox,
and polio, that were once commonplace; and
WHEREAS older adults and persons with chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and lung disease
are especially vulnerable to serious illness and complications from vaccine preventable diseases; and
WHEREAS Medicare coverage for these populations does not encourage access to this proven and cost-
effective form of prevention; and
WHEREAS since 2012, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Annual Call letter to Medicare
Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans has brought to light the need to strengthen beneficiary access to Part D
vaccines to protect against costly and devastating vaccine preventable conditions; and
WHEREAS a 2017 report by Avalere Health found between 47 and 72 percent of the 24 million Medicare
beneficiaries with Part D coverage had some level of cost sharing for vaccines, ranging from $35 to $70 in
2015; and
WHEREAS another study found that only 4 percent or less of Medicare Part D enrollees had access to vaccines
with no cost sharing; and
WHEREAS on March 23, 2021, the Protecting Seniors Through Immunization Act of 2021 was introduced in
the U.S. Senate; and
WHEREAS this bipartisan legislation would provide Medicare beneficiaries access to all recommended
vaccines at no additional cost, including shingles and tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap); and
WHEREAS under current law, Medicare immunization coverage varies by vaccine; and
WHEREAS some vaccines, like those that protect against influenza and pneumococcal infection, are available
with no additional out-of-pocket spending; and
WHEREAS however, other vaccines —like the shingles vaccine —often require significant additional spending,
which in turn contributes to lower vaccination rates, particularly for elderly, disabled, and chronically ill people;
and
WHEREAS prior to the pandemic, more than 50,000 adults in America died from vaccine -preventable diseases
every year, and the United States spent more than $15 billion annually treating Medicare beneficiaries alone for
vaccine -preventable diseases; and
WHEREAS the Act would reduce financial barriers by providing Medicare coverage of adult vaccines
recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices with no additional cost -sharing for beneficiaries; and
WHEREAS it would also improve patient education by including information about vaccine coverage in the
Medicare & You Handbook and require a study on vaccine uptake among Medicare beneficiaries; and
WHEREAS Americans deserve better access to high value preventive adult immunizations than what is
presently available.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby supports
the Protecting Seniors Through Immunization Act of 2021.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED Americans deserve better access to high value preventive adult
immunizations than what is presently available.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to forward
copies of the adopted resolution to the U.S. Senate Majority and Minority Leaders and the members of the
Michigan Senate delegation.
Chairperson, the following Commissioners are sponsoring the foregoing Resolution: Kristen Nelson, Angela
Powell, Janet Jackson.
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David Woodward, Commissioner
Lisa Brown, County Clerk / Register of Deeds
COMMITTEE TRACKING
Date: November 16, 2021
Date: November 16, 2021
2021-10-28 Full Board - Introduced and Referred to LAGO
2021-11-02 Legislative Affairs & Government Operations - recommend to Board
2021-11-10 Full Board
VOTE TRACKING
Motioned by Commissioner Christine Long seconded by Commissioner Kristen Nelson to adopt the attached
Resolution: Support of the Protecting Seniors Through Immunization Act of 2021.
Yes: David Woodward, Michael Gingell, Michael Spisz, Karen Joliat, Kristen Nelson, Eileen Kowall,
Christine Long, Philip Weipert, Gwen Markham, Angela Powell, Chuck Moss, Marcia Gershenson, Yolanda
Smith Charles, Charles Cavell, Penny Luebs, Janet Jackson, Robert Hoffman, Adam Kochenderfer (18)
No: None (0)
Abstain: None (0)
Absent: (0)
The Motion Passed.
ATTACHMENTS
None
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, Lisa Brown, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and
accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on November 10, 2021,
with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court at Pontiac,
Michigan on Wednesday, November 10, 2021.
Lisa Brown, Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds