FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) – A state senator has filed a bill to protect Kentucky firefighters by expanding its Hepatitis B continuing inoculation voucher program to include Hepatitis A vaccinations.
The legislation was filed by Senator Johnny Ray Turner, a Democrat from Prestonsburg. Senate Bill 140, which is cosponsored by Senator Brandon Smith, D-Hazard, would allow the Kentucky Fire Commission to pay costs for Hepatitis A vaccines, as it currently does for Hepatitis B vaccinations, for all paid and volunteer firefighters.
Funding would come from revenues allocated to the Firefighters Foundation Program and be limited to $500,000 per fiscal year.
“With the outbreak and recurring spread of Hepatitis A in the commonwealth, firefighters from Harlan County approached me with concerns that some older firefighters have not had the Hepatitis A vaccine,” said Senator Turner. “Seeing the merit in their concerns, I looked into it and agreed that there was a need to provide the second vaccine. This is a safety and preventive measure.”
