IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 842 
Recognizing Meningitis B Awareness Day. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 24, 2018 
Mr. PAULSEN (for himself and Mr. BISHOP of Michigan) submitted the fol-
lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing Meningitis B Awareness Day. 
Whereas it is the custom of the House of Representatives to 
increase awareness of serious illnesses that affect the 
lives of United States citizens; 
Whereas meningococcal disease, more commonly referred to 
as bacterial meningitis, is any infection caused by the 
bacterium Neisseria meningitidis; 
Whereas meningococcal disease is uncommon; however, when 
it strikes, its flu-like symptoms make diagnosis difficult; 
Whereas meningococcal disease can cause serious illness, such 
as infection of the lining of the brain and spinal column 
(meningitis) or blood infections (sepsis); 
Whereas the disease strikes quickly and can lead to severe or 
permanent disabilities, such as hearing loss, brain dam-
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age, seizures, and limb amputation, or even lead to death 
within 24 to 48 hours; 
Whereas, although 1 in 10 people are carriers for this bac-
teria with no signs or symptoms of disease, sometimes 
Neisseria meningitidis bacteria can cause illness; 
Whereas there are different strains of bacterial meningitis, 
including serogroups A, C, W, Y, and B, and vaccines 
exist to help provide protection against all the serogroups 
commonly seen in the United States; 
Whereas the single best way to help prevent all common 
strains of meningococcal disease is to be vaccinated with 
both a MenACWY vaccine and a separate MenB vaccine; 
Whereas meningococcal disease is spread from person to per-
son via the exchange of the bacteria through respiratory 
and throat secretions during close or lengthy contact, 
such as sharing beverages or eating utensils, kissing, or 
spending time in close contact with someone who is sick 
or who carries the bacteria; 
Whereas community settings in which large groups of people 
gather, like college campuses, can increase the risk of the 
spread of meningococcal disease; 
Whereas, because of the way meningitis is spread through 
close personal contact, the social behavior of young adults 
ages 17 to 23 increases their risk of contracting the dis-
ease; 
Whereas students in dormitory settings and crowded events 
are particularly vulnerable to meningococcal disease; 
Whereas while vaccines for serogroups A, C, W, and Y have 
been available for many years, prior to 2014, there were 
no vaccines available for serogroup B; 
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Whereas despite the existence of a serogroup B vaccine, men-
ingitis B has been responsible for all United States col-
lege campus outbreaks since 2011, with some cases re-
sulting in death; 
Whereas because the B strain of meningitis requires a new, 
separate vaccination, students heading to college may 
mistakenly think that if they received the MenACWY 
vaccine that they are protected against all strains and 
may not realize they are not protected against the B 
strain; 
Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B accounts 
for approximately half of all meningococcal cases among 
persons ages 17 to 23 years in the United States; 
Whereas vaccination for serogroups A, C, W, and Y is rou-
tinely recommended by the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention; 
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) 
recommends that decisions to vaccinate adolescents and 
young adults 16 through 23 years of age against 
serogroup B meningococcal disease should be made at the 
individual level with health care providers; 
Whereas meningitis vaccines are covered by public and pri-
vate insurance plans, and individuals are encouraged to 
contact their health insurance plan to determine coverage 
of MenACWY and MenB vaccines; 
Whereas the Federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) program 
will cover both MenACWY and MenB vaccines for chil-
dren and adults who have no health insurance or whose 
health insurance does not cover these vaccines, as well as 
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for children less than 19 years of age who are American 
Indian or Alaska Native or eligible for Medicaid or other 
State health plan coverage; 
Whereas Kimberly Coffey was 17 and a high school senior on 
Long Island when she died from meningitis B in 2012 
(before meningitis B vaccines were available in the 
United States); 
Whereas Kimberly’s mother, Patti Wukovits, R.N., created 
the Kimberly Coffey Foundation and, today, this vital or-
ganization remains true to its mission in providing edu-
cation to the public and health care professionals about 
meningococcal disease and advocating for two types of 
meningococcal vaccination; 
Whereas the Kimberly Coffey Foundation’s goal is to ensure 
that no other family will endure the loss of a child or 
have a loved one experience the devastating effects of 
meningococcal disease; 
Whereas June 15, 2018, marks the sixth anniversary of Kim-
berly Coffey’s death; 
Whereas Emily Stillman was a 19-year-old sophomore at 
Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan, when she 
tragically contracted bacterial meningitis (before menin-
gitis B vaccines were available in the United States); 
Whereas, on February 2, 2013, after just 36 hours in the 
hospital, Emily passed away; 
Whereas Emily’s mother, Alicia, created the Emily Stillman 
Foundation in 2014 to preserve the memory of Emily Ni-
cole Stillman and to advocate for organ/tissue donation 
and for the increased availability of meningitis B vaccines 
for children; 
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Whereas students, parents, educators, and health care pro-
viders need to know about all strains of meningitis and 
how to protect against all strains; and 
Whereas April 24, 2018, should be considered National Men-
ingitis B Awareness Day: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives recog-
nizes Meningitis B Awareness Day. 
Æ 
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