Health Department Recommends Meningitis Vaccine for College Bound Students

If you know someone who is heading off to college this fall, encourage them to take precaution by getting the meningococcal vaccine.  This advice from Cathy McEwen RN of the Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department.  Mrs. McEwen  is the School and Community Health Coordinator for the agency and recommends any freshman bound student who plans to live in a dormitory should consider the vaccine.  

            Mrs. McEwen explained that college students are particularly vulnerable to the disease because of the close contact they have with other students while living in campus dormitories. “In fact”,  says McEwen, “freshman living in dorms are found to have a sixfold increased risk for the disease.”     Mrs. McEwen explained that Meningococcal meningitis is a rare but potentially fatal bacterial infection.  “It is spread through the air via respiratory secretions or close contact with an infected person.  Modes of transmission include coughing, sneezing, kissing or sharing items like utensils, cigarettes and drinking glasses.”  According to McEwen, Meningococcal meningitis strikes about 3,000 Americans each year and is responsible for approximately 300 deaths annually.   Nearly 1/3 of all the known cases in the US every year have fatal or debilitating effects on the victims.

            The Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department does have the vaccine on hand, says McEwen.  “On October 20, 1999, the Center for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to recommend that college students, particularly freshman living in dormitories, be educated about meningococcal meningitis and the potential benefits of vaccination.  The Advisory committee further recommended that immunization should be provided or made easily available to those freshman who wish to reduce their risk for meningococcal meningitis.”       Mrs. McEwen said that the vaccine has been shown to provide protection against the most common strains of the disease including serogroups A,
C, Y and W-135.  The protective antibody levels may be achieved within 7-10 days after vaccination.  The vaccine is 85-95% effective against the named serogroups and lasts 3 to 5 years.    The cost of the vaccine is $100, however discounts may be available based on student eligibility.  says McEwen.  Appointments can be made by calling the health department offices in Paxton at (217)379-9281 or Watseka (815)432-2483. 

            For more information regarding the disease, consumers may call the above numbers or request information by e-mail at info@fiphd.org.