Alexander, Murray Announce HELP Committee to Hold Hearing on Vaccinations
Hearing scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, at 10 a.m.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 3, 2015 –U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate health committee, today announced they will be holding a hearing Tuesday, Feb. 10, on vaccinations, in the wake of a multi-state measles outbreak that has caused more than 100 people to become sick.
Alexander said: “The federal government is spending millions to spur the discovery of an Ebola vaccine—something that has the potential to save many lives—yet dangerous diseases for which we already have a vaccine are rising here in the United States. At next week’s hearing, we’re going to take a look at what is happening to cause a rise in the number of Americans sick from diseases that are preventable by vaccines.”
Murray said: “In the 21st century, there’s no reason why children and families should be at risk of contracting diseases that vaccines can prevent. I’m looking forward to an important conversation next week about how to address the increase in vaccine-preventable diseases and make sure communities across the country are safe from serious and avoidable illnesses.”
The hearing, titled “The Reemergence of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases: Exploring the Public Health Successes and Challenges,” will take place at 10 a.m. in room 106 of the Dirksen building.
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