College Students Required To Get Meningitis Vaccination

A new law requiring college students to be immunized against meningitis went into effect, and health officials are not only urging them to comply, but to understand the importance of the vaccination.

Senate Bill 1107 is also known as the Jamie Schanbaum and Nicolis Williams Act, two Texas college students who contracted the disease. Williams died as a result. The new law means that all first-time students, transfer students, and returning students younger than 30 must receive the vaccination at least 10 days before the first day of the semester.

Students who have gotten the vaccination within the last five years, do not need to be re-vaccinated. Students must provide documentation showing they have been immunized against the disease.

“We want all students at area colleges and universities to not only comply with the new requirements, but also understand why vaccination is so important,” said Michael Hill, director of the El Paso Department of Public Health. “Freshmen college students and those who live in dormitories are especially susceptible to this disease.”

Meningitis is a disease caused by the inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord known as the meninges, according to a news release issued by the health department. The inflammation is usually caused by an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. The severity of illness and the treatment for meningitis differ depending on the cause. Bacterial meningitis is usually more severe than viral, fungal, or parasitic meningitis. Although it can be very serious, bacterial meningitis can be treated with antibiotics that can prevent severe illness and reduce the spread of infection from person to person. About 1,000 cases of meningitis are reported annually in the United States, but more than 10 percent of these cases have resulted in the patient’s death. The last reported case in El Paso was in 2009.

For more information or to check on vaccine availability, call 915-771-5733 or visit the Department of Public Health Department website.