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 MENINGITIS VACCINATION

The Staff of the Student Health Center at the University of Northern Colorado want to make you aware of a vaccine that we have available to prevent meningitis.

The number of cases of meningitis has risen on college campuses in recent years. Studies from the outbreaks suggest that college students are more susceptible because they live and work in close proximity to each other in residence halls and classrooms. Lifestyle appears to be a risk factor as well, with exposure to active and passive smoking, alcohol consumption, and bar patronage all increasing the chance that one will contract meningitis from an infected individual.

Meningococcal meningitis is a serious and potentially fatal bacterial infection that causes inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord and can lead to permanent disabilities, such as hearing loss and brain damage. Sometimes the bacteria can infect the bloodstream, and can lead to kidney and heart failure which can result in severe disability and death (20% of patients with meningococemia die from the infection, while 10% of those with Meningococcal meningitis die from the disease).

The good news is that there is a safe, effective vaccine that can provide protection against four strains of Meningococcal disease and that vaccine is available at the Student Health Center. The four strains in the vaccine account for nearly 70% of the Meningococcal cases on campuses. Protection from the vaccine lasts for approximately 3-5 years.

When someone is diagnosed with meningitis, it is not unusual for students to panic because they suddenly realize how rapidly the disease progresses and that they are, indeed, very vulnerable. To eliminate some of this fear and panic, it makes sense for students to get vaccinated against meningitis.

To get the vaccine, call the Student Health Center at (970) 351-2412 for additional information.  Due to the high cost of this vaccine, we do not keep a big supply on hand, so your name may be placed on a short waiting list and we will notify you when the vaccine arrives.

For more information, go to the Meningococcal Vaccine sheet by the Center for Disease Control.