Meningitis Vaccine
What is it? How is it contracted?
College students risk Recommendations Who should be vaccinated?
WHAT IS MENINGITIS INFECTION?
Meningitis is an infection of the fluid of a person’s spinal cord and the fluid that surrounds the brain. The disease can be caused by either a viral or bacterial infection.
If the infection goes untreated, it can lead to permanent disabilities such as hearing loss, brain damage, seizures or amputation. It can even lead to death. The good news is that if it is caught early, meningitis is curable in most cases.
HOW IS IT SPREAD?
The infection is easily spread through direct contact with oral secretions. Such contact includes:
- Coughing/sneezing
- Sharing of utensils, cigarettes or drinking glasses
- Kissing
- Close contact in classes and activities with other students
Quick Checklist of symptoms
Symptoms of meningitis are similar to those of the flu. Many people complain of symptoms such as:
- Severe headache
- Stiff neck
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- High Fever
- Sensitivity to bright lights
- Confusion
- Sleepiness
NOTE: It is uncommon for all of these symptoms to be present.
A Risk for College Students:
College students have a greater risk of infection than the general population because of activities that are often part of college life, such as smoking, going out to bars, drinking alcohol, and living in a dormitory.
Meningitis strikes about 125 students on college students annually and about 15 students die as a result. Further research shows freshmen living in the dorms have a six times higher risk of infection than college students overall and a four times higher risk than others in their age group.
Are there vaccines against meningitis?
Yes, the vaccines are safe and highly effective. The vaccine is a single shot, which provides protection starting in about 10 to 14 days and lasting about 3 to 5 years. Adverse reactions are mild and infrequent, consisting primarily of redness and pain at the site of injection lasting up to 2days.
Current recommendations:
The American College Health Association (ACHA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) both recommend that undergraduate college students, particularly freshmen who live in or plan to live in the dormitories or residence halls, consider getting the vaccine. The recommendations for those who should be vaccinated are:
- Entering college students
- Undergraduate students 25 years of age or under
- Students with medical conditions that compromise immunity (e.g. HIV, cancer, etc)
- Students traveling to other parts of the world
Fees You Can Afford
The vaccination against meningitis is available at your Student Health Services (SHS). There will be a fee associated with the vaccination. To inquire about the cost or make an appointment to receive the vaccination, call (661) 654-2394.
ED 8/05