Tragically, an Ohio college student whose home is a town from mine died last week of bacterial meningitis. The loss of a teenager to illness is heartbreaking, especially when a safe and effective meningitis vaccine is available. I still remember medical school lectures where professors warned us that bacterial meningitis can kill a person in hours. They showed us slides (there was no power point at the time) of the characteristic skin rash of meningitis, and warned us never to forget it. I have not done it.
Although the CDC recommends vaccination against meningitis for college students living in dormitories, Ohio does not require it. In fact, in Ohio only 38% of teens have received the meningitis vaccine, below the national average. Health experts strongly urge that all college freshmen get vaccinated before coming to school. An Ohio bill was introduced to require meningitis vaccination for college students, but has made no progress in the legislature. Most states, in fact, do not require meningitis vaccination for college students. We don’t need a law to do the right thing.
Vaccines are one of the greatest triumphs of modern medicine. They prevent terrible diseases at a very low risk and cost. Meningitis is a threat both here and abroad. International travelers to the ‘meningitis belt’ in Africa, for example, should discuss this vaccine with their travel physician.
If you are traveling abroad, meet with a travel doctor weeks before departure. In addition to the vaccinations required for travel, you will receive important travel safety tips.
Of course, there is no law that requires international travelers, or any of us, to receive the meningitis vaccine or other important travel vaccines. Does there have to be?