<p>When my D was getting her vaccination for college (required by the school), I had my HS freshman S vaccinated also. He went on band trips and was a 2 sport athlete. I liked very much having one less thing to worry about.</p>
<p>the latest at Penn:
Penn</a> issues update on meningitis - 2/15/09 - Philadelphia News - 6abc.com</p>
<p>
[quote]
According to the University's website, all three students who were hospitalized with meningococcal infections have had significant improvement and are recovering. </p>
<p>The health advisory mentions that two other students have been hospitalized with flu-like symptoms, but have not been confirmed to have meningitis. </p>
<p>The University of Pennsylvania will resume normal operations Monday, including all classes, campus events, and other gatherings. The University cancelled all official and student-sponsored parties as a precautionary measure. </p>
<p>The advisory on Penn's website further states:</p>
<p>Thus far, University and city public health officials have provided preventative antibiotic treatment to more than 2,100 students. Any students who attended fraternity or sorority events since February 2 should seek preventative antibiotic treatment. </p>
<p>-Even those who have had a previous vaccination for meningococcal disease should receive preventative antibiotic treatment.
-There is no need for anyone who has received preventative antibiotic treatment since Thursday, February 12 to repeat treatment.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>There is good info on the vaccine here - from the CDC:
<a href="http://img.webmd.com/dtmcms/live/webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/media/pdf/hw/form_vis10.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://img.webmd.com/dtmcms/live/webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/media/pdf/hw/form_vis10.pdf</a>
It only protects againsts 4 types of meningitis. The girl who died at Penn last year had been vaccinated.<br>
My d said that they gave everyone a single CIPRO pill as the prevention mentioned above.</p>
<p>Excerpted from a letter to Princeton students from it's health services director:</p>
<p>There have been three confirmed cases of bacterial meningitis at Penn, in addition to two more suspected illnesses. All appear to be connected either to Penn's Greek life or the men's or women's fencing teams.</p>
<p>Bacterial meningitis is contagious, but generally is transmitted by close personal contact. The bacteria are spread through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions (i.e., coughing or kissing). Fortunately, none of the bacteria that cause meningitis are as contagious as the common cold or the flu, and they are not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been.</p>
<p>University officials at Penn have informed us that the risk is confined to individuals who had contact with fraternity or sorority activities at Penn, or its fencing teams, between Feb. 2 and Feb. 14. If you have engaged in these activities or with these groups, you should contact McCosh Health Center. Signs and symptoms of bacterial meningitis for this group could include high fever, headache and stiff neck. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, discomfort looking into bright lights, confusion, sleepiness, and rash. These symptoms can develop over several hours, or they may take one to two days.</p>
<p>The meningitis vaccine required by state law of all Princeton students living in dorms does not protect against the strain of the bacteria identified at Penn, but once diagnosed, meningitis is treatable with common antibiotics.</p>
<p>We think that the vaccine made our kid smarter :)</p>
<p>There are very few, if any, reasons not to vaccinate for any diseases for which a vaccine exists. Especially for a potentially rapidly fatal one such as bacterial meningitis. </p>
<p>It's tragic that the girl at Penn died from the disease, but I'm disheartened to see that the family's first response was to sue the hospital.</p>
<p>Both my in-laws and my father were physicians in public health and private practice. Everyone in the family got vaccinated early and often. They have seen too many cases of preventable diseases and the unfortunate children.</p>
<p>Neisseria meningitis vaccine required to live in dorms in NJ. No choice.</p>
<p>Regulations have just been updated to recommend vaccination for medical laboratory personnel to receive the vaccine as well. My employer is offering it free and most of us are accepting the offer.</p>
<p>It is true it 'only' protects against a specific type of bacterial meningitis but it is a deadly one.</p>
<p>I read in the paper today that the three penn kids who were infected were all vaccinated. The strain they picked up was not covered by the vaccine. Thankfully, they are all doing fine and on the road to recovery. Over 3000 students got antibiotics on campus...wow.</p>
<p>LongPrime,
I LOVE your post that the vaccine made your kid smarter......that just made me GRIN! I know a lot of folks worry about vaccines.....we have always done what was called for... and perhaps my kids are as smart as they are because of that choice?? LOL......thanks for the upbeat thought.</p>
<p>I am a HS senior and I can tell you some things you need to know about Meningitis. I am a PA-DOH Emergency Medical Technician, so medical training is my specialty. You need this vaccine if you are going to be in close contact with people. Living in a single does not immunize you for several reasons: 1. Bathrooms- plenty of moist environments. 2. they will have friends in their rooms. 3. Common rooms. 4. Sex happens, and that is about as close a contact as you can get. So, long and short get the vaccine.</p>
<p>or you could practice good hygiene
SOme people either because of compromised immune systems or other reasons shouldn't get too many vaccines, it isn't a one size fits all situation.</p>
<p>what concerns me- is that people assume that a vaccine protects them & they may become careless.\
I speak from personal experience
About 14 years ago, I contracted Hepatitis B.
I do not use drugs- I do not have sex with anyone besides my husband ( everyone in my family- including my husband is negative)
The only thing I did was go to a dentist in Seattle and as far as I knew, used proper precautions. That isn't necessarily my risk factor but I truly cannot think of any thing else.
Just FYI.</p>
<p>We have two Ohio University freshmen hospitalized with bacterial meningitis now. One is confirmed to have been vaccinated - not sure about the other. The boys lived in two different dorms: James Hall and Crawford Hall. They had a class in common. </p>
<p>I remember a freshman girl died of bacterial meningitis at Ohio State Mansfield in spring 2006. This is a frightening disease, something to worry about.</p>
<p>WTTE</a> 28 - Ohio News</p>
<p>Bacterial</a> Meningitis Confirmed On Campus | NBC4i.com</p>
<p>I just saw this thread, so its a little while since anyone said anything, but I thought I would add something. I had both my D's vaccinated about a year and a half ago with the longer lasting version of the vaccine. One was in junior high, the other high school.</p>
<p>Why so early? One of the girls in my D's Spanish class died of meningitis. She was a freshman in h.s. An athlete. A nice girl. Very popular. She started feeling ill. Stayed home. It took awhile for the doctors to figure it out. Within two days from feeling ill, she was in a coma. The family chose to disconnect and she died. The entire school was devastated.</p>
<p>I like to think that she didn't die so young without purpose.... vast numbers of the kids at the school became vaccinated, as well as their siblings and kids all around the area. I like to think the loss of this girl saved lives.</p>
<p>Warning-another huge problem is MRSA or staph infections. I have personally know 4 people (3 kids, one adult) over the last 2 years who have contracted very serious staph infections from small wounds and a bug bite! Two required hospitalization and surgery. One other died. One faced amputation but seems to be doing better after 2 surgeries. He got it from a spike wound on his ankle during a baseball game. This seems to be pretty high statistice if I know 4 people. Warn your children to watch any scratch or puncture wound for infection and if they develope any kind of a fever, seek help immediately! With both menengitis and staph infections, they can be fatal very quickly. The hard thing is, we can't always be with our kids, especially when they go away to college. Kids tend to not take "flu" and small injuries very seriously.</p>
<p>The hard thing is, we can't always be with our kids, especially when they go away to college. Kids tend to not take "flu" and small injuries very seriously.</p>
<p>Tell me about it- I am currently being treated for* something* , - I have white blood cells where I am not supposed to have white blood cells, even though I don't have a fever- and while I felt crappy, I thought I was just sick of winter. ( I only went to the dr, because I also have a concussion and was supposed to get rechecked)
( the antibiotic ciprofloxain has a black box warning of tendon rupture- I have a physical job, I can't lay in bed until I am better- but supposedly tendon rupture is a risk even months after I stop taking it! :( )</p>
<p>My 18 yr old has had shots for practically everything you can get vaccinated against : not rabies, not chicken pox ( she had that when she was five), not dengue fever ( no vaccine), but that still leaves plenty to worry about.</p>
<p>we couldn't find a mosquito net for sleeping before she left, she has boxes of malarone- for malaria, but not enough for her stay- so I have to remember to send more-..
She thinks from prior experience, that the bugs don't like her- shaking head- she is fairly cautious, but still she is 18, she thinks she knows everything. ;)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.vaccines.org/%5B/url%5D">http://www.vaccines.org/</a></p>
<p>WVU.....</p>
<p>Meningitis</a> Suspected In Teen WVU Student's Death - Health News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh
Meningitis</a> Suspected in West Virginia Student's Death - The Paper Trail (usnews.com)</p>
<p>My S had bacterial meningitis as a preschooler (before the vaccine was available) so I speak from experience. It was a hell that I would never wish on anyone.
I'm a huge believer in vaccinations, not just because they protect the individual but also because high vaccination rates protect the entire community - including students in close contact, infants, the elderly, and the immuno-compromised, all of whom are more vulnerable to infection.</p>
<p>DD goes to college in august. Our health insurance is changing in April. I'm thinking of getting her the vaccine before it changes. How long is the vaccine good for? I can't remember from when DS had it.</p>