Meningitis Information
IMPORTANT ALERT AND REQUIREMENT FOR ALL CENTRAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
Meningococcal Disease (Meningitis) Vaccination Information
Due to increased awareness of Meningococcal Disease (Meningitis) on college campuses, more than 30 states have enacted legislation mandating distribution of information to students and their parents about the dangers of Meningococcal Disease (Meningitis) and the availability of an effective and safe vaccine.
In April of 2004 a bill was passed in Iowa that requires SIGNED responses from students living on campus stating that they received information about Meningococcal Disease (Meningitis) and indicating whether or not they choose to be vaccinated. Additionally, education and vaccination of college students, particularly first-year students living on campus, is endorsed by several well-respected health-care advisory groups; the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the American College Health Association (ACHA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
However, before parents and students can make an informed decision about Meningococcal Disease (Meningitis), they need to know:
- Meningococcal Disease (Meningitis) can be devastating. Up to 1 in 5 of those infected will die from vaccine preventable Meningococcal Disease (Meningitis).Of the survivors. Up to 1 in 5 develop permanent complications, including amputation, scarring, hearing loss, and neurological damage.
- Incoming college first-year students are at a moderately increased level. First year college students living in residence halls have at least a 6-fold greater risk for Meningococcal Disease (Meningitis) than other undergraduates.
- Most Meningococcal Disease (Meningitis) is vaccine-preventable. Vaccination with MENACTRA-A/C/Y/W-135 (Polysaccharide Diphtheria Toxoid Conjugate Vaccine) – protects against the serogroups of the N meningitides (A, C, Y, and W-135) that cause up to 83% of the cases of Meningococcal Disease (Meningitis) in college students and young adults. In fact, in the US military where Meningococcal Disease (Meningitis) epidemics were once common, use of the vaccine among new recruits has reduced the occurrence of the disease by 94%.
What you need to know…
- You can make arrangements to get vaccinated:
o At your home clinic…OR
o By calling Pella Regional Health Center at 641-621-2200.
The following websites may be visited for more information. They can be accessed, also, through the Health page on myCentral.
- Center for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.html
o State of Iowa: http://www.idph.state.ia.us/idph_universalhelp/blob.aspx?ObjID={F3E12861-DBDD-4B0D-9983-647E7AB2B91D}
o http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4210.pdf