<p>The Center for Disease Control has some good information about bacterial and viral meningitis:</p>
<p>Meningococcal</a> Disease-Frequently Asked Questions | CDC Meningitis</p>
<p>I have told this story before on CC, but it bears repeating: Please get your kid vaccinated. My friend's 19 year-old son died 4 years ago from meningitis. He was a strong healthy kid, about to start his freshman year of college. He went out hiking with his friends on Thursday evening; by Saturday 7 a.m. he was dead. I got my sons vaccinated as a way to honor his memory.</p>
<p>A tenth grader died in our HS many years ago, while the class was on a trip to Boston. It was meningitis, and it was truly horrible. Get the vaccine.</p>
<p>When I was a teen, a girl in my class died from bacterial meningitis within just hours of developing fever. I scared the life out of my parents because I came down with another ilness the same weekend. "Luckily" for me, it was only mumps (I do not know if the shot was not available back then or if it was not "required")! Needless to say, I'm pro-vaccinations.</p>
<p>The ONLY reason - the ONLY reason- not to get vaccinations is if you are immunocompromised. Those who choose not to get their kids vaccinated for "religious reasons" put all other immunocompromised kids- and that includes infants who have not yet received a complete series (including Prevnar, MMR, HIB) at risk. Although "herd immunity" (ie everyone else is vaccinated against polio, so those who don't get their kids vaccinated take advantage of that) works for some diseases, it doesn't work for all, and not all the time.
Back to Menactra: you would be beyond stupid not to get it. Both meningococcal meningitis and meningococcemia are deadly despite antibiotics.</p>
<p>
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The ONLY reason - the ONLY reason- not to get vaccinations is if you are immunocompromised.
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If you have a severe allergy to something in the vaccine, you'll also want to steer clear.</p>
<p>Not only should you get Menactra vaccine, you should also get the Hepatitis A Vaccine as well because of communal living and eating.</p>
<p>So what determines if the vaccines are required or not? Is it up to the individual college to make a reccomendation/requirement or is it up to the state? (Like the number of fire drills at college varies by state rules)</p>
<p>Dd has several friends who practice homeopathy and are not vaccinated against anything. Ever! And all they have to do is write a letter stating it is against their religion.</p>
<p>^I believe it's up to the college.</p>
<p>But it is important to get the vaccine, requirements or not.</p>
<p>I think it is ok to not get vaccinated if its agaiinst your religion. These people ONLY benefit because eveyone around them are vaccinated. but it is unfortunate because it also increases th risk to others at the same time.</p>
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So what determines if the vaccines are required or not? Is it up to the individual college to make a reccomendation/requirement or is it up to the state?
[/quote]
Some states require the vaccine. If the state does not have such a requirement, it's up to the college whether or not to require it.</p>
<p>youre still much more likely to die in a car crash than from meningitis or anything else
besides if everyone else is vaccinated its less likely to spread
didnt bother getting it</p>
<p>I'm trying to think of kinder ways of saying that the reasoning behind the above post strikes me as short sighted, intellectually lazy, and selfish.</p>
<p>If having a higher rate of death than car crashes is one's basis for decisions regarding personal safety, I guess we could eliminate protected sex, maybe refrigeration, smoke detectors, food inspection, mammograms...........</p>
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youre still much more likely to die in a car crash than from meningitis or anything else
[/quote]
That's the dumbest logic I've heard in quite some time. I mean seriously, why don't you just go play Russian Roulette or something... I mean with the odds in your favor 5/6 I don't see what the big deal is! (sigh)</p>
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besides if everyone else is vaccinated its less likely to spread
didnt bother getting it
[/quote]
Not true. </p>
<p>The virus, like many viruses, can be spread by those that don't contract the disease. If you're not vaccinated, you're not protected. By not getting vaccinated not only are you putting yourself at increased risk, but your putting others at increased risk too (the vaccines aren't perfect and people can still be infected in an outbreak). Hence why it's the law in some places... it's a public health issue.</p>
<p>You want to check the manufacturer of the different Menengitus vaccines. Some manufacturers still use Thimerosal which is 49.5% mercury. Also you should google search vaccine HOT LOTS in the VAERS database to make sure your child does not get a HOT LOT. Also you want to check the Aluminium content of the different manufacturers and be sure not to combine the menengitus vaccine with any other vaccine esp. HPV(a newly liscensed vaccine with questionable safety) or MMR which is (3) live viruses.</p>
<p>The risk of menegitus increases with 2nd hand smoke, alchohol use, tongue kissing a carrier and weakened immune status. I would do more research on the meningitus vaccine other than the CDC website. Look at VAERS-vaccine adverse event reporting system and NVIC website before making your decision.</p>
<p>If you choose to vaccinate. Do it when your child is in ultimate health-never sick. Pump your child with Vitamin C and Vitamin A before and after. Take Probiotics and selenium for mercury and magnesium malate to chelate out the Aluminium.</p>
<p>It is a myth that vaccines do not have side effects and until research is done to determine why a sub population will react parents need to do their homework. One size does not fit all.</p>
<p>"That's the dumbest logic I've heard in quite some time. I mean seriously, why don't you just go play Russian Roulette or something... I mean with the odds in your favor 5/6 I don't see what the big deal is! (sigh)"</p>
<p>at my university, last year 2 people died, out of the what 55,000 students and staff there. I'd spend the $45 on a good meal before I worried about those type of odds.</p>
<p>Most large universities have at least a case or two every year and a death every few years... sadly it does happen!... and those that don't die are often left with permanent debilitating conditions... this isn't something you want to mess with.</p>
<p>coranged, </p>
<p>Do you know where to find state vaccine requirements?</p>
<p>Here's a nice table with requirements by state for the meningitis vaccine: State</a> Mandates: Meningococcal.</p>