<p>As a pediatrician I can assure you that every effort is made to ensure that vaccines are safe and effective. Physicians administer them at or below cost and do so because they know how severe these illnesses can be, even chicken pox. I would urge every parent of an adolescent, whether college-bound or not, to make sure that your daughter or son is fully immunized, including most especially protection against meningococcal meningitis.</p>