Meningitis Vaccine Available for College Bound Students

Calling all college-bound students! The Trumbull Health Department strongly encourages all college-bound students to get vaccinated for meningitis. The Menactra vaccine, which targets serogroups A, C, W, and Y, is available at the Trumbull Health Department by appointment. Cash or check is accepted. Individuals 18 years of age or younger may be eligible for reduced cost vaccine. Call the Trumbull Health Department at 203-452-1030 to schedule an appointment with the public health nurse.

“The Trumbull Health Department recommends all college students and parents learn about meningococcal disease and the availability of a safe and effective vaccine,” said Rhonda Capuano, Trumbull Health Department Director of Health. “Infectious diseases tend to spread wherever large groups of people gather together.”

Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection that can infect the bloodstream or the membrane covering the brain and spinal cord. Common symptoms often resemble the flu which include high fever, headache, and stiff neck. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, discomfort looking into lights, confusion, exhaustion, and rash on the extremities. Symptoms can develop within a few hours and up to one to two days.

Meningitis is easily spread through respiratory secretions and close contact with an infected person, such as kissing, sharing cigarettes, glasses or utensils. Meningococcal disease can be quite severe due to its rapid progression, and may result in limb amputation due to necrosis, brain damage, hearing loss, learning disability or death.

Rates of meningococcal disease have been declining in the United States since the late 1990’s. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 370 cases of meningococcal disease were reported in 2016. Recent data show that the risk for meningococcal disease in college students is slightly higher than the risk in other teens and young adults who are not attending college. Meningococcal disease can be very serious and life-threatening, therefore, the CDC recommends meningococcal conjugate vaccines for first-year college students living in residence halls. One dose of meningitis (A, C, W and Y) vaccine is required for Connecticut students entering seventh grade (11-12 year olds). A second booster dose should be given at 16 years of age. However, some students may not have gotten the vaccine possibly due to foreign birth or religious exemption.

For more information about the meningitis vaccine or to schedule an appointment call the Trumbull Health Department at 203-452-1030.

###

The Trumbull Health Department is committed to improving the quality of life for all it serves through the promotion of health, prevention of disease, and by assuring a safe and clean environment for our residents. For more information about the Trumbull Health Department call 203-452-1030 or visit trumbull-ct.gov/THD.