Meningococcal Disease and College Students

[Pat Robinson]

Meningococcal Disease and College Students:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr4907a2.htm

"This report provides information regarding the modestly increased risk for meningococcal disease among college freshmen, particularly those who live in dormitories or residence halls. It presents recommendations developed by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices regarding the education of students and parents about meningococcal disease and the polysaccharide meningococcal vaccine so that they can make informed decisions regarding vaccination.

Forty-three cases of meningococcal disease were reported during the 2 years from colleges with a total enrollment of 4,393,744 students, for a low overall incidence of 1.0 per 100,000 population per year. However, cases of meningococcal disease occurred 9--23 times more frequently in students residing in dormitories than in those residing in other types of accommodations.

Vaccination of freshmen who live in dormitories would result in the administration of approximately 300,000--500,000 doses of vaccine each year, preventing 15--30 cases of meningococcal disease and one to three deaths each year.

Vaccination does not eliminate risk because a) the vaccine confers no protection against serogroup B disease and b) although the vaccine is highly effective against serogroups C, Y, W-135, and A, efficacy is <100%.

The risk for meningococcal disease among college students is low; therefore, vaccination of all college students, all freshmen, or only freshmen who live in dormitories or residence halls is not
likely to be cost-effective for society as a whole."

The last paragraph says it all.

How many of the whopping 15-30 annual cases of bacterial meningitis will occur in vaccinated students? How many vaxed college students will die of the strain from which vaccine is supposed to protect?

50% of all (43 cases in two years of 4.3 million students) cases of meningitis are Type B, which this vaccine doesn't cover.

VAERS data from recent reports of two 19 year old females who died of Meningitis C despite being vaccinated:

*From initial information at manufacturer, it was reported that a 19 year old female patient received Menomune A/C/Y/W 135, UB034AA, on 7/2/01. Route/site were not reported. Patient had cultures sero group C. On 2/15/03, patient had blood cultures and was positive for ? of meningitis group C. Patient was hospitalized for 4 days, then died on 2/18/03.

http://www.medalerts.org/vaersdb/findfield.php?EVENTS=on&PAGENO...

*Earache; diarrhea and vomiting; on menses. CDC confirmed and
notified in 9/01 that the cause of death as fulminant meningococcus. Typing was C from ear drainage. Autopsy results received confirming this also.

http://www.medalerts.org/vaersdb/findfield.php?IDNUMBER=175648&...

Menactra package insert: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/biologicsbloodvaccines/vaccines/approv...

Menomune package insert: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/Approv...

Educate before you vaccinate.

Pat