IMO, it is very important that every incoming freshman be immunized against meningitis, particularly if he or she will be living in a dorm. Every year several college freshmen in the U.S. die of meningitis. When my son was a freshman, another freshman at his school died of meningitis on the last day of class. She was “remembered” at graduation last week because she would have been in that graduating class.
There are two types of vaccines. The first has been around for a long time and requires two doses (at least when my children were immunized). Many incoming freshmen may have already had those doses but you should check. The second vaccine was just approved by the FDA in late 2014. The outbreak that occurred at Princeton last year was a type that was not covered by the old vaccine. (See http://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/outbreaks/vaccine-serogroupb.html). The new vaccine is hard to find. Pediatricians might have it but most doctors and pharmacies do not. If you cannot find the vaccine and want a suggestion of where you should be able to find it, PM me. Since this vaccine is very new and hard to find you may choose not to get it. But you should definitely consider getting the original vaccine and talking to your doctor about meningitis outbreaks.
WARNING: I am not a doctor, health professional or in any way an expert on this issue. I am simply a mother. You should consider this post to be nothing more than a suggestion to find out about these vaccines and make the decision you feel is best.
Thank you so much 2135ar for the very important post. I don’t think many people are aware of Meningitis B. My friend’s daughter died from Meningitis B in 2013 while she was away at college. My friend has made it her purpose in life to educate people about Meningitis B and organ donation. Luckily, we live in Michigan and are just about a half hour away from Canada, where the vaccine has been approved for a while. Last year, my friend organized bus caravans to Ontario so anyone who wanted the Men B vaccine could get it. College age kids, who live in dorms, are at higher risk to contract Men B, but it can affect anyone. If anyone reading this lives close to Michigan, my friend has clinics that offer both Meningitis vaccines, now that Men B has been approved in the US. check out The Emily Stillman Foundation on Facebook and www.foreveremily.org
We received a letter from Wash U saying that they require the meningitis MCV4 vaccine and two doses of MMR. the MCV4 DOES NOT protect against Men B
I would like to second @2135ar. When living in such close quarters with other students, it’s a breeding ground for rapid fire disease spread. Usually that means a cold or the flu, but sometimes is more serious (such as the princeton outbreak). I myself got swine flu back in '09 (that was no fun) during the wustl outbreak.
Also to be a bit of a downer, the strain the Emily Benatar had (the student who unfortunately passed away at wustl in 2012) was indeed Men B. As I recall, she had the old vaccination, but unfortunately the new one did not exist/wasn’t approved at that time.