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Westminster College to Offer Student Meningococcal Meningitis Immunizations

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Posted on Wednesday, October 25, 2000

Westminster College will offer its students the opportunity to get a meningococcal meningitis immunization Thursday, Nov. 16, from 1-7 p.m. at the Walton-Mayne Union Lounge.

"Westminster is working with VACCESSHealth, a company that specializes in direct access immunization programs," said Judith Duda, director of the Student Health Center at Westminster College. "The vaccine offered will provide protection against four of the five most common strains of meningococcal disease, which together account for nearly 70 percent of meningococcal cases on college campuses."

"We want to make it as easy as possible for our students to take advantage of this program, so no appointment is necessary to get the vaccine," continued Duda. "The fee is $75, which can be billed to Westminster student accounts or a major credit card."

Meningococcal meningitis is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include fever, sever headache, stiff neck, rash, nausea, vomiting and lethargy. The infection can lead to permanent disabilities, such as hearing loss and brain damage.

Since behavioral and social aspects of college life appear to be risk factors, and post-exposure vaccination may be too late to provide real protection, VACCESSHealth recommends taking advantage of this offer. The vaccine, which lasts for 3-5 years, has an excellent safety profile, and side effects are mild and infrequent. People should defer taking this shot during any acute illness, and those individuals who are sensitive to thimerosal should not get the vaccine.

For more information, contact Duda at (724) 946-7927.