Innoculation is the Key

The Federal Government's advisory committee on immunization practices recommended last week that universities and health professionals urge college first-years to get meningitis vaccinations. The federal health advisory board also advocated that college health care providers prepare information about meningococcal disease, and about the risks and benefits of the vaccination. Health officials say that college students are more susceptible to the disease because they live in such close proximity in dormitories. Last May, the federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) reported that college students living in dormitories are six times more likely to contract meningitis than students living off-campus.

Meningitis is a potentially fatal infection, which causes an inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and the spinal cord. The bacteria causes flu-like symptoms such as headaches, high fevers, stiff necks and nausea which can quickly become exacerbated and be fatal within hours if not treated by antibiotics. Meningitis is an extremely rare infection, effecting only 3.8 of every 100,000 college dorm residents.

There have been a number of meningitis outbreaks at college campuses across the nation. During the summer of 1997, a meningitis case at the Harvard summer school prompted the administration to require students to receive meningitis vaccinations. The line stretched from Memorial Hall to the Yard.

Although UHS does provide brochures and information about the risks and benefits of the meningitis vaccination, they are available only on the third floor of their offices. Our care providers should take more of an initiative in promoting education and awareness about meningitis among students, especially because the infection's symptoms can be so easily mistaken for those of the common flu and because most Harvard students spend more time living in dormitories than their counterparts at other universities.

In addition, UHS still charges students $77 for the meningitis vaccination. Although this price tag may seem steep, especially in comparison to UHS' free influenza shots, it is the Department of Public Health that provides the resources for flu shots, and they have not yet extended this support to meningitis shots. And because UHS officials say that the CDCP is reevaluating their recent immunization recommendation, monetary support from the federal government may be long in coming. Even so, UHS has discussed with College officials the availability of the vaccine. And, as with all of their services outside of the original health policy fee, UHS will accommodate any student who wants a vaccination but cannot afford it.

Students should also be aware of the vaccine's limitations. The vaccine only offers immunity against four of the nine serogroups of the bacteria that causes meningitis and the vaccine is only effective for one to four years. Additionally, while the vaccine prevents one from contracting meningitis, it does not prevent one from carrying and spreading the disease.

UHS had been educating the community about meningitis and providing prevention from the infection even before last week's health advisory recommendation. But now that even the federal government has identified meningitis as a danger--especially detrimental to those in a college dormitory environment--UHS must step up to the plate, and increase its education and prevention.