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House Supports Bacon’s Bill to Provide Flu Information to Older Hoosiers

The Indiana House of Representatives yesterday passed State Rep. Ron Bacon’s (R-Chandler) legislation to make information about influenza and vaccines more readily available to assisted living residents.

House Bill 1058 would require assisted living operators to provide residents specific information pertaining to influenza and influenza vaccinations. Bacon said this proposal would better ensure that residents are aware of important information regarding their health during the flu season.

“Making this information readily available to residents could have a major impact on their health,” Bacon said. “With 90 percent of influenza-related deaths and 60 percent of influenza hospitalizations occurring in individuals over the age of 65, this proposal gives residents an opportunity to prevent the flu and stop it from spreading in their facilities.”

Bacon said the Indiana State Department of Health reported an increase in flu cases compared to this time last year, and increasing voluntary vaccinations in groups at the highest risk is critical in protecting Indiana’s public health.

House Bill 1058 now moves to the Senate for consideration. To learn more about this legislation, visit iga.in.gov.

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