<p>D. (currently a sophomore) is going away to camp for 3 weeks. I called the health dept and it sounds like its my choice if she gets the shot or not ( I havent gotten the info from the camp yet so not sure if its required)</p>
<p>I think it would be a good idea to get it. What do you all think? Also they said there were two shots the newer one which lasts 8-10 years and the older one which lasts 3-5. She said the new one was very safe.. Has anyone heard anything about it?
Thanks</p>
<p>See the discussion on the sticky "Now that admission decisions have been made..." Toward the end, there is a discussion of the new vaccine.</p>
<p>As a nurse, I can tell you that many physician's recommend the meningitis shot, especially for students who will be living in dorms at college. Meningitis can be spread through coughing, sneezing, sharing eating/drinking utensils, kissing, living in close quarters, etc. My DD will be attending Girls State and Governor's School this summer and I have already made an appointment for her physical and told her she will be getting the meningitis shot at that time.</p>
<p>I have a comment on the other thread, but this morning I received a response to an e-mail I sent to USC. I had asked if they recommended the vaccine for students living off-campus. They said that all students should get it. However, based on my phone call yesterday to USC they haven't developed their protocls yet for using it. In any case the old vaccine was good for four years so who knows. I e-mailed my son and suggested he check it out, which undoubtedly will have no impact on him whatsoever.</p>
<p>My two kids (grades 7 and 12) had their annual physicals a couple of weeks ago. Both received the vaccine. The older child will be away at college next year. The doctor did not at first recommend it for my younger child, who will attend mostly day camps this summer. However, because he will be living in a college dorm for a week at a different camp, it seemed like a good idea to vaccinate him.</p>
<p>You'll probably find that a lot of colleges will require entering students to get meningitis vaccinations - I signed a waiver when I was supposed to get one in high school, but ended up having to get one anyway before coming to college. We also had a case of meningitis reported at my school this weekend...so I guess that's either a comment on the importance of being vaccinated, or on the less than stellar efficacy of the vaccine (I don't know if the student who got sick had been vaccinated or not.)</p>
<p>I'd say it's probably a good idea if you and D have no real objections to getting shots. AFAIK there haven't been masses of people reporting serious side effects of any kind, so I wouldn't worry about it too much.</p>
<p>Yes I definately am going to have her do it..but does anyone know if there have been problems with the newest verson. The lady said it was just out and safe..but I dont want my D to be the guinea pig.</p>
<p>I won't reprint the info from the "Now that admission decisions" thread, but, suffice it to say - the newer vaccine is not yet widely available, and as Tsdad said, many providers are still deciding how to use the vaccine. The indications for the new vaccine are much broader than for the old, so there will be a limited supply of the new vaccine, that accounts for some of the difficulty.
By all means, if you can get the new vaccine for your child, take it. The main advantage to your child is the immunity lasts about 7-8 years vs 3-4 for the old. If you cannot get the newer vaccine, particularly if your child is going to college, take the old shot. The side effect profiles of both vaccines are similar.</p>
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tsdad- do we have the same son? ;)</p>
<p>I checked with a pharmacist who specializes in immunizations and tons of other stuff for the military. He said that a student who has already received the "old" vaccine does not need to be vaccinated with the "new" one. I am not going to worry about dragging son all over the place to get the new one.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>He said that a student who has already received the "old" vaccine does not need to be vaccinated with the "new" one. I am not going to worry about dragging son all over the place to get the new one.<<</p> </blockquote>
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<p>Having had the old one lessens the need to rush to get the new one, but as it becomes locally available I'm getting the new one for both my Ds, even though D1 has already had the old. The new one provides significantly better and longer-lasting protection. </p>
<p>The old vaccine wore off after about 2 or 3 years and booster shots with it were shown to be of very little value. The conjugate vaccines are a BIG improvement.</p>
<p>Because we have used them successfully with D in the past, I called a homeotherapeutic supplier yesterday to order pre-vaccination kits for S to take before he gets his new rounds of immunizations. I was advised by the company's director to be sure that S gets the meningitis shot, either old or new. </p>
<p>He also strongly recommended that S get a polio immunization, even though S's protocol was completed when he was young, and it's not required by his college. The man said that there are cases of polio being reported in folks who've "outgrown" the immunity from the childhood series. Because the polio vaccine uses live viruses, those who have lost their original immunity can be at risk of exposure again.</p>
<p>Coureur, my oldest had the menn. vaccine last summer, and they said it would be good for 3-4 years. Should I wait 2 years to get him the new one?</p>
<p>I called a local private clinic today and the pediatrician to get the new vaccine for youngest son who will be in a college dorm for 5 weeks this summer. Both have plenty and they both want $110. We're going Saturday.</p>
<p>DS had the meningitis vaccine (required) before he went to college. It was part of his college physical and we didn't pay anything for it (yearly physicals are fully covered as are vaccines on our policy). I need to call regarding DD who will be living in a dorm this summer. Bottom line is that there are risks to every vaccine. There are risks to taking Tylenol (see the package insert if you don't believe me). Would you rather run the risk of your child getting meningitis which can be fatal?</p>
<p>P.S. Angst....does this mean you finally found a summer program for your daughter (is this the aspiring pop singer?)? Where is she going?</p>
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<blockquote> <p>Coureur, my oldest had the menn. vaccine last summer, and they said it would be good for 3-4 years. Should I wait 2 years to get him the new one?<<</p> </blockquote>
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<p>I see no advantage to waiting. The first vaccine will not somehow interfere with the effectiveness of the second. No need to wait for it to "expire". I'd go for the better protection right away.</p>
<p>I'm a proponent of the new vaccine, but one thing to remember about BOTH these vaccines is that they do not provide complete protection. There are several strains of this bacteria, and they have been successful at developing a vaccine against only some of them. There are still others lurking out there. So sanitation, cleanliness, and vigilance are still called for.</p>
<p>Thanks Courier</p>
<p>I bookmarked 2 links about this, since i thought it was important. Question: Why wouldn't someone take this vaccination? Is it only because of the pain that associated w/ shots?</p>
<p>Here is a bit more information from the CDC:
<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/VIS/vis-mening.pdf%5B/url%5D">www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/VIS/vis-mening.pdf</a></p>
<p>If that link doesn't work, go here and click on Meningococcal:
<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/VIS/default.htm#mening%5B/url%5D">http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/VIS/default.htm#mening</a></p>
<p>Two weeks ago, I went to the funeral of my coworker's 19 year-old son, who died from bacterial meningitis. He was to start college in the fall. My son, a college freshman, had to be vaccinated (required) before college, but I had never thought of getting my 15 year-old vaccinated. Well, believe me, he'll have the shot before he goes away to summer camp. There is nothing sadder than the death of a child. We are all so shaken by this incident.</p>