Meningitis vaccine to be offered to students

Meningitis
vaccine to be offered to students
…………………………………………………………………

BY DANA BENSON
Rice News Staff

A meningitis
and influenza immunization outreach program will be held
on campus Oct. 3 in the Grand Hall of Rice Memorial Center
from 1 to 7 p.m. The program is sponsored by Rice University
and VACESSHealth.

Fees for the
vaccines are $85 for the meningitis immunization and $20
for the influenza immunization. The vaccines can be billed
to students’ home addresses or to a major credit card.

There are some
very important reasons why students should consider the
immunizations, especially the meningitis immunization. Meningococcal
meningitis is a potentially fatal bacterial infection that
causes inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain
and spinal cord. In recent years, the risk group for meningitis
has shifted to older children, adolescents and university
students, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.

The disease
is spread by direct contact with infected individuals or
through the air via respiratory secretions such as coughing
and sneezing. Studies suggest that college students are
more susceptible to meningitis because they live and work
in close proximity to one another in dormitories. Behavioral
and social aspects of campus life also may be risk factors,
with smoking, exposure to second-hand smoke, alcohol consumption,
kissing and bar patronage all increasing the chance of contracting
meningitis from an infected individual.

While the disease
is becoming increasingly common among college students,
it also is hard to detect because its symptoms are similar
to influenza. Symptoms of meningitis include fever, severe
headache, stiff neck, rash, nausea, vomiting and lethargy.
Due to the rapid onset of the disease, immediate medical
attention should be sought if two or more of these symptoms
are present.

The meningitis
vaccine has proven to be safe, with side effects generally
mild and infrequent. They mostly include redness and swelling
at the injection site.

Some insurance
companies will reimburse for the cost or partial cost of
the vaccine. Students should check with their insurance
companies to learn about their policy.

In addition
to getting the vaccine, students can do other things to
maximize their immune responses, including eating a balanced
diet, getting adequate sleep and exercise and avoiding cigarettes
and excessive consumption of alcohol. In particular, students
should not make a habit of sharing drinks and cigarettes.

More information
about meningitis and the vaccine is available by phone at
1-877-482-2237 or on the Web at <www.vaccess.com>.