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Also by Derrick Frese:
- Title IX Controversy (March 3, 2003)
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A meningitis vaccine has come under closer scrutiny after several outbreaks of the bacterial illness on college campuses around the country. Since the disease, which is spread primarily through the passing of saliva between two people, can be hampered by the vaccination, there is an ongoing debate about whether this vaccine should be required of all UW students.
Experts say meningitis, which has symptoms similar to the flu, is difficult to distinguish from the flu, something that some experts say leads to misdiagnosis among college students.
Fourteen states have now passed legislation to make it mandatory for all college students to receive the vaccine or sign a waiver of consent in its place. Severe cases of meningitis in students in the University of Wisconsin System and the death of a Madison student this past November reinforced the argument for vaccinations in Wisconsin, experts say.
However, University Health Service epidemiologist Craig Roberts disagrees, saying that it isn’t necessary to require the vaccine.
“The vaccine doesn’t cover all the strands (of meningitis),” Roberts said. “It only covers about 60 percent.”
The vaccine of which Roberts speaks is generally considered second-best to another meningitis vaccine currently used in Europe and Canada. This vaccine allows a stronger response from the immune system, which experts say is important in the effectiveness of the vaccine.
Meningococcemia meningitis is the strand of the disease which is particularly dangerous to students and which is extremely rare. The disease affects approximately five freshman dormitory residents out of 100,000.
“We see one to two students per year [with meningoccemia meningitis], but these are all serious,” Roberts said.
UW sophomore Michael Scharenbroch agrees with Roberts about the level of necessity for the vaccine.
“No, the vaccine is not necessary. It is very expensive (ranging from $65 to $85) and is not totally reliable,” Scharenbroch said.
He also laughed at his chances of contracting the disease, saying he has “a better chance of being struck by lightning.”
However, other UW students have a different view of the matter.
“Something as simple as a shot in the arm sounds pretty easy to prevent unnecessary deaths of UW students,” freshman Ben Jarvis said.
Jarvis also went on to bring up personal experience when warning about the dangers of meningitis.
“I’ve seen it in action, and it is something everyone should fear,” he said.
Although many say the dangers of refusing to get a meningitis vaccine should be kept in mind, there are other methods of prevention.
According to Roberts, because meningitis is a bacteria, it is spread mainly through saliva, which makes it fairly simple to prevent its spread. By not sharing beverages and other items that come in contact with the mouth, the chances of contracting meningitis are reduced. However, many believe the safest road to take is to get the vaccine.
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My son, Eddy Bailey, died from this disease in 16 hours. Erik Spindler died the day before Eddy at UW River Falls. Brian Mitsch contacted the disease at UW Madison and survived with complications. Sarah Gornick died from it at UW madison. Sean Coleman died at UW Eau Claire from this disease. Dustin Raley died of this disease while living in Madison. Amber Krenz died at UW from this disease. Please save your life and get vaccinated and keep your immune systems strong and healthy. The horror of this disease is unspeakable pain for all the families of these individuals. Gail Bailey, Proud to be Eddy’s Mom