VACCINE CLINIC FOR COLLEGE BOUND SENIORS

LEONARDTOWN, MD (March 29, 2005) – The St. Mary’s County Health Department will hold a Meningococcal Vaccine Clinic at Leonardtown High School Wednesday, April 6 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the high school’s auxiliary gym. Students who plan to attend community or residential colleges in the fall are encouraged to attend. Residential students in Maryland colleges are required by law to be vaccinated.

The vaccine provides protection from meningococcal disease, including meningococcal meningitis, a rare but sometimes fatal disease caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. The disease often strikes adolescents and young adults. One of the dangers of meningococcal meningitis is that it spreads quickly in the body, infecting the brain and spinal cord coverings, and within hours of the first symptoms can cause devastating effects, including organ failure, brain damage, amputation of limbs or even death.

According to health department officials, lifestyle factors common among adolescents and young adults seem to be linked to the disease. These include crowded living
 
situations such as dormitories, boarding schools and sleep-away camps, sharing drinks, and cigarettes, kissing, and irregular sleep habits. Vaccination can prevent most cases of the disease.

When considering vaccination, parents are encouraged to learn the advantages of protecting their child. The vaccine is safe and effective against four of the five types of the bacteria responsible for meningococcal disease in the United States. Protection lasts approximately three to five years. As with all vaccines, there may be minor reactions (pain and redness at the injection site or a mild fever).

The vaccine clinic is open to the public. Students who are under 18 will need parental consent to get the vaccine. The cost is $70. For concerns regarding ability to pay for the vaccine or for more information please call the health department at 301-475-4330.