University News
Meningitis Vaccine Clinic 9/9
September 2, 2010
MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois University Beu Health Center, working in conjunction with the McDonough and Knox County Health Departments and the Illinois Department of Public Health, has obtained a limited supply of meningitis vaccine to distribute free of charge to WIU students (with a valid WIU I.D.) while supplies last.
Clinics will be held in the University Union Lincoln Room on a first come, first serve basis from 11 a.m. -1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9. A second clinic may be held at a later date if additional vaccine is available.
According to Mary Margaret Harris, Beu Health Center director, the vaccination provides protection against four of the five strains of the disease. The four strains cause up to 85 percent of meningococcal cases on college campuses, Harris added.
According to the CDC, college freshmen living in residence halls are at increased risk for meningococcal disease and should be vaccinated with meningococcal conjugate vaccine before college entry if they have not previously been vaccinated. The risk for meningococcal disease among non-freshmen college students is similar to that for the general population of similar age (age 18-24 years). However, since the vaccines are safe and produce immunity, they can be provided to non-freshmen college students who want to reduce their risk for meningococcal disease.
For more information regarding health issues at Western, contact Beu Health Center at (309) 298-1888.
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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