Meningitis Information

College students are at increased risk for meningococcal disease, a potentially fatal bacterial infection commonly referred to as meningitis. In fact, students living in residence halls are found to have a six-fold increased risk for the disease. The American College Health Association, The American Academy of Pediatrics, and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that college students, particularly those living in residence halls, learn more about meningitis and vaccination. At least 70% of all cases of meningococcal disease in college are vaccine preventable.

Many states have recently passed legislation mandating the meningitis vaccine for all students living in residence halls. Pennsylvania has legislation (Senate Bill 955) stating college students living in college housing either have the vaccine or sign a declination statement after having received information concerning the benefits of receiving the meningitis vaccine.

• What is meningococcal meningitis? Meningitis is rare. But when it strikes, this potentially fatal bacterial disease    can lead to swelling of fluid surrounding the brain and spinal column as well as severe and permanent    disabilities such as hearing loss, brain damage, seizures, limb amputation, and even death.

• How is it spread? Meningococcal meningitis is spread through the air via respiratory secretions or close contact    with an infected person. This can include coughing, sneezing, kissing, or sharing items such as utensils,    cigarettes and drinking glasses.

• What are the symptoms? Symptoms of meningococcal meningitis often resemble those of the flu and can    include high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, rash, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, and confusion.

• Who is at risk? Certain college students, particularly students who live in residence halls, have been found to    have an increased risk for meningococcal meningitis. All undergraduates should consider vaccination to reduce    their risk for the disease.

• Can meningitis be prevented? Yes. A safe and effective vaccine is available to protect against four of the five    most common strains of the disease. The vaccine provides protection for approximately three to five years.    Adverse reactions to the meningitis vaccine are mild and infrequent, consisting primarily of redness and pain at    the injection site and in rare instances, a fever. As with any vaccine, vaccination against meningitis may not    protect 100 percent of all susceptible individuals. It does not protect against viral meningitis.

• For more information: To learn more about meningitis and the vaccine, visit    www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/disease.info (the Centers for Disease Control) and www.acha.org (the American    College Health Association) online.

PLEASE CHECK THE STATEMENT THAT APPLIES:

___ I have received the meningitis vaccine.                               _____________________________________
        Date Received ___/___/___                                            Print Name
                                                                                                         

___ I have read and understand the information about              _____________________________________
        meningitis, and I decline the meningitis vaccine at              Student Signature                       Date
        this time.                                                                        (Parent of legal guardian if student is a minor)   

                                                                                             _____________________________________
                                                                                              Social Security Number