Vaccinations: meningococcal disease.

Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to develop information about meningococcal disease, by April 1, 2002, and make it available to each requesting degree-granting public and private postsecondary institution and to each requesting school district. Existing law authorizes the department to design and implement a public awareness campaign to reach members of the population identified as being at high risk for contracting the disease. This bill would, instead, require the department to develop information about meningococcal disease, including information pertaining to children who are between 11 and 18 years of age, by April 1, 2010. The bill would authorize the State Department of Education to add this information to any health education material sent home to parents of students who are at least 11 years of age.