In a message dated 10/29/1999 10:04:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
writes:
> What is everyone doing with regards to the Meningicoccal vaccine. The Red
> Book does not recommend giving it to all college students but the
media is
> making a big deal about this. I can't get a good feel about what to do...
>
I'm not sure, either. I haven't had too many parents ask yet, but I know
it's coming. Here is the latest bulletin from the CDC/ACIP (via the
Immunization Action Coalition newsletter):
October 20, 1999
ACIP MODIFIES RECOMMENDATION FOR MENINGOCOCCAL VACCINATION
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released
the following press release entitled "ACIP Modifies
Recommendations for Meningitis Vaccination" on October 20,
1999. The press release is reprinted as follows:
"The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
has modified its guidelines for use of the polysaccharide
meningococcal vaccine to prevent bacterial meningitis,
particularly for college freshmen who live in dormitories,
a group found to be at a modestly increased risk of
meningococcal disease relative to other persons their age.
"At its October 20 meeting, the ACIP, citing results of two
CDC studies done in 1998 which identified the slightly higher
risk among freshman dormitory residents, recommended that
those who provide medical care to this group give information
to students and their parents about meningococcal disease
and the benefits of vaccination. Vaccination should be
provided or made easily available to those freshmen who wish
to reduce their risk of disease. Other undergraduate students
wishing to reduce their risk of meningococcal disease can
also choose to be vaccinated.
"The currently available vaccine protects against some types
(serogroups) of the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis (also
called meningococcus), an important cause of bacterial
meningitis and sepsis in children and young adults in the
United States. A single dose of the vaccine is recommended,
and vaccination will decrease the risk of disease caused by
N. meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135. However,
vaccination will not totally eliminate risk of the disease
because the vaccine does not protect against serogroup B and
because, although it is highly effective against serogroups
C and Y, it still does not confer 100% protection against
these serogroups. In 1998-1999, serogroups C and Y caused
about 70% of cases among college students.
"Approximately 3,000 cases of meningococcal disease occur
each year in the United States, and 10%-13% of patients
die despite receiving antibiotics early in the illness. Of
those who survive, an additional 10% have severe aftereffects
of the disease, including mental retardation, hearing loss
and loss of limbs.
"On September 30, 1997, the American College Health
Association (ACHA), which represents about one-half of
colleges with student health services in the United States,
released a statement recommending that "college health
services [take] a more proactive role in alerting students
and their parents about the dangers of meningococcal disease"
and that "college students consider vaccination against
potentially fatal meningococcal disease." In early 1998, CDC,
in collaboration with the Council of State and Territorial
Epidemiologists (CSTE) and ACHA's Vaccine Preventable Disease
Task Force, initiated two studies to better define the risk
of meningococcal disease associated with college campuses.
Both studies indicated that freshmen college students,
particularly those who live in dormitories, constitute a
group at a modestly increased risk for meningococcal disease.
"More information on meningococcal disease, its symptoms,
and the vaccine is available on the CDC website,
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo and the
American College Health Association.
http://www.acha.org/special-prj/men/faq.htm";
To obtain a copy of the text version (HTML format) of
this press release, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/meningococcal_college.htm
For additional information about meningococcal vaccine, visit
the "Meningococcal Disease and Vaccination" page on IAC's
website at: http://www.immunize.org/genr.d/menin.htm
To read and/or download questions and answers on meningococcal
disease that appeared in the fall/winter 1999-2000 issue of
"NEEDLE TIPS and the Hepatitis B Coalition News," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/genr.d/men-exp.htm