This month, Governor Quinn signed the last of my sponsored bills that had been sent from the General Assembly. I thank Governor Quinn for his support of these measures, and I am very excited to see them enacted. From improving education and streamlining government for more efficiency to finding alternatives to incarceration for low-level, non-violent drug crimes, much of my efforts were focused on improving the quality of life for the people of my district and across the state. Below is a summary of the bills I sponsored that were signed into law. If you would like to view a full synopsis of the bill, click on the highlighted bill number in each section.

Shots can prevent infectious diseases like measles, diphtheria, and rubella. But people in the U.S. still die from these and other vaccine-preventable diseases. It’s important to know which shots you need and when to get them.

Everyone over age 6 months needs a seasonal flu shot every year. Other shots work best when they are given at certain ages. Here are some general guidelines:

• Children need a series of shots from birth to age 6.

• Pre-teens need recommended shots at age 11 or 12.

• All adults need a tetanus booster shot every 10 years.

We all need immunizations (also called vaccines or shots) to help protect us from serious diseases. To help keep our local community safe, I hope that you will participate in National Immunization Awareness Month.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Thursday, August 18, 2011