Miami University

Student health service provides vaccine information

10/28/1999

Detailed information to help Miami University students make an informed decision on a meningitis vaccine is available from the student health service.

Although the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend the vaccine for all college-age students, a federal health advisory committee recently suggested that freshmen and other students who live in residence halls are at modestly increased risk and should be informed of the vaccine's availability.

The disease continues to be rare. The CDC reports that there were only 88 cases of meningococcal disease, which includes meningitis and a less-common infection of the blood known as meningococcemia, among college students between September 1998 and June 1999. Six students died.

According to Dr. Greg Garnett, student health service medical director, the vaccine:

• Appears to be safe and has few side effects.
• Is effective for three to five years, but does not provide life-long immunity.
• Does not protect against all strains of meningococcal disease, but is effective against about 70 percent of the infections which occur each year among college students.
• Is not 100 percent effective against the strains it does cover, but does provide about 85 percent effectiveness among those strains.

The vaccine is available at the student health service. Current cost is $60. For more information, go to http://www.muohio.edu/parents/meningitis.html or call 529-3000.