New School Year Approaching: Time to get Immunized Part 1

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. (Dr.) Michael Rappa and 1st Lt. Basil Aboul-Enein
  • 14th Medical Group
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  With the new school year approaching quickly, school officials and student health clinics are beginning preparation for the surge of incoming students. Part of that preparation is the screening of immunization records. Immunizations are available to help prevent several different diseases. One such disease and health concern is meningococcal meningitis. Meningococcal meningitis is a bacterial infection of the tissues covering the brain and spinal cord, often referred as the meninges. The name of the bacteria is Neisseria meningitides. Meningitis can also cause infection of the blood called sepsis.

This disease is relatively uncommon in the United States but can strike quickly at anytime of the year and is often fatal. Meningitis can be spread via respiratory droplets and nasopharyngeal secretions through close intimate contact such as kissing, coughing, or sharing eating utensils. The good news is that Neisseria meningitides does not live outside the body very long; just minutes versus hours. Also, good news is that meningococcal disease is not nearly as contagious when compared to the common cold and is not spread through normal casual contact. Breathing the air for a short time in the same area of someone who later develops the disease does not increase your risk of infection. 

However, normal casual contact that extends beyond 4 hours and any intimate contact are risk factors for the disease. Whenever a case of meningococcal meningitis occurs, Public Health personnel attempt to seek out and identify those contacts at risk so they can be referred to a medical provider for care. For those contacts, there are safe preventive treatment options available for which the 14th Medical Group provider staff can provide.

Symptoms of meningitis include stiff neck, headaches, high fever, chills, lethargy, and a rash. Healthful habits that help to minimize the risk of contracting this disease include common hand washing practices and using hand sanitizers; cover your mouth and nose when coughing; sneezing into your sleeve instead of into your hands; and avoiding frequent touching of your eyes, nose and mouth.

Vaccination for meningococcal disease is a routine childhood immunization that should be given at 11 to 12 years of age. Additionally, for those children aged 2 through 10 who have medical conditions that place them at high risk, a specially formulated meningococcal vaccine is recommended. All teenagers who have not received meningococcal vaccine should get immunized at the next available opportunity. Meningococcal vaccine is particularly recommended for college freshmen students who will be residing in dormitories or residence halls. Most colleges and universities require documentation of meningococcal vaccine status as a way to help decrease the risk of meningitis outbreaks in the schools. The vaccination is highly effective against the disease. To learn more about Meningitis, please visit the CDC website on meningitis at www.cdc.gov/meningitis/about/index.html. So, don't wait. Vaccinate!

If parents have additional questions, they can always schedule an appointment with their provider or take advantage of the vaccination opportunity that will be available during the school/sports physicals available on July 30.