<p>I recollect that my son's school basically requires the vaccine. Our pediatrician also didn't present it as a real choice. It was "just time" for the vaccine. All vaccines have potential side effects, but they are small with this one. It is important that everyone get the vaccine, particularly when living in close dormitory quarters.</p>
<p>My younger daughter didn't get many vaccines when young. We live in a state that allows philsophical objections & she had bad reaction to vaccines when she was young.
( older sister had basic required vaccines)</p>
<p>Older D's school didn't require vaccine and I don't even think they recommended it, in college- however- virtually all dorm rooms are single or divided doubles.
Not sure if she eventually recieved it.</p>
<p>Younger D has gotten the meningitis vaccine as she spent almost three weeks in rural Ghana last year, and Africa has a higher number of outbreaks than US.
Glad she got it last year ( along with yellow fever vaccine), she is now recovering from the series of Japanese encephalitis shots ( it has made her really sick- vomiting for over a day)- I don't remember the meningitis shots being this bad.</p>
<p>It does concern me however- that
vaccines offer 0 protection against viral meningitis and from the reports of Penn students complying with the requirement of vaccination at almost 100% but seem to be getting ill anyway.</p>
<p>( * concern* is an understatement- I am scared to death she is going to get some horrible illness- but at least if she makes it back in one piece- college is going to be a piece of cake!)</p>
<p>Our colleges required this vaccination if you are living in college housing. However, I strongly encouraged all my friends to get their students this vaccination. One friend refused due information she dug up on the Internet. But when you have so many kids living together, I think it’s a good idea.</p>
<p>I personally don't think there should be a choice - the meningitis vaccine should be mandatory. I would like to see colleges require it for admission.</p>
<p>
[quote]
It does concern me however- that
vaccines offer 0 protection against viral meningitis and from the reports of Penn students complying with the requirement of vaccination at almost 100% but seem to be getting ill anyway.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Why does that concern you? The viral version isn't lethal. You don't even need to be hospitalized for it.</p>
<p>I absolutely think you should get vaccinated, you just need to be aware that if you have the symptoms you should whisk yourself off to the nearest ER and not wait.</p>
<p>My school only recommended it, but it was required per my parents and strongly recommended by my doctor (whom I really like and trust). I got it before I left last August. I haven't heard of anyone at my school getting it, but we have our own bathrooms and are limited to 4/6 people per room so I suppose there's slightly less chance of someone getting it.</p>
<p>
[quote]
It does concern me however- that
vaccines offer 0 protection against viral meningitis and from the reports of Penn students complying with the requirement of vaccination at almost 100% but seem to be getting ill anyway.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I didn't read where the kids were vaccinated at all.</p>
<p>Did I misread?
Also just to reiterate: Bacterial meningitis is fatal, if you survive, which chances are nil, the illness there is lasting damage. The vaccine protects you from this lethal infection.
Viral meningitis is different and not fatal.</p>
<p>S's college strongly recommended the vaccine if living in a dorm. Ads for the Menactra vaccine scare you to death -- early meningitis symptoms look like the flu, and you can die within 24 hours. Also, can be spread by sharing a drink. Yikes! Do you want to rely on a college freshman recognizing that his or her flu-like symptoms are something more serious? I had my son get the vaccine without hesitation.</p>
<p>My son's college sent out a letter encouraging a vaccination but also warned that the most common type of bacterial meningitis seen in that area was one that the vaccines did not protect against. </p>
<p>The vaccines don't seem to protect against all the bacterial types either but are better than nothing for those living in the dorms. There are also certain immune system problems that live vaccines are a no no for.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Bacterial meningitis, a serious infection of spinal-cord fluid and the fluid around the brain, can be successfully treated. It can, however, lead to brain damage, hearing loss or worse. The disease killed Penn sophomore Anne Ryan, 19, in fall 2007, and afterward her family sued the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.</p>
<p>State law requires students in campus housing to be vaccinated against the disease or comply with waiver requirements, but Penn requires all undergraduates to be vaccinated, Wiener said.</p>
<p>Because of privacy concerns, she would not say if the two infected students had been vaccinated, but she said undergraduate compliance was close to 100 percent.
<p>S1's college required proof of vaccination in order to enroll, even S2 had to have shot in order to attend a summer program there. I am surprised it is not required everywhere.</p>