Once the school year returns, a new mandate will take effect that parents need to be aware of. Starting with the 2017-2018 academic year, all students entering seventh grade will be required to show proof of the Menactra or Menveo vaccines, more commonly known as meningitis vaccinations. The mandate also applies to individuals enrolled as a freshman at a Nevada college or university who are younger than 23.
What is meningitis? Meningococcal disease is an infection that affects the meninges or membranes that envelope the brain and spinal cord. There are three main types of meningitis — bacterial, viral and fungal:
• Bacterial meningitis is the most serious type. It can put the infected person at risk of death and has a 10-15 percent fatality rate. The United States sees an estimated 4,500 cases per year; 700 of those cases will not be expected to survive, and another 900-1,000 cases will develop long term complications. Highly contagious, it can spread quickly between people in close contact with each other. Symptoms include a stiff neck, fever, vomiting, intense headache, sensitivity to light, mental confusion and a rash on the body. This type can cause loss of limbs, organ failure or severe learning disabilities resulting from brain damage. Treatment includes strong doses of antibiotics specific to the bacteria fed intravenously into the body around the clock.
• Viral meningitis is less severe than bacterial and much easier to treat. Symptoms include fever, malaise and some neck stiffness (although not as intense as found in bacterial meningitis cases). Treatment is mostly supportive, with fluids, fever and pain reliever medication, and rest. Most people recover completely without seeking medical treatment.
• Fungal meningitis is a very rare form of the disease. It usually only happens in people who have a weakened immune system. Treatment includes prescribing antifungal medications.
All cases should seek medical care at the onset of symptoms immediately.
This leads us to the meningitis vaccine and preventative measures to safeguard us from the spread of the disease. Rates for being a carrier of the bacteria are highest among older adolescents and college-age students. Studies show that children entering the seventh grade through the first years of college are in that prime category where transmission is high, as there is more movement and close interaction with others.
It’s common to be proactive versus reactive regarding public safety. The recommendation to vaccinate has always been there — now, our state has taken the extra step and made it mandatory. Menactra and Menveo are the only manufactured vaccines used to prevent meningitis. The shot is administered in the deltoid (shoulder/upper arm) muscle just like a flu shot. While there is always potential for side effects, in this case it’s very rare — the patient may just experience very minor redness or swelling of the injection area. The first dose should be administered to children in seventh grade, followed by a booster shot at 16 years of age or after.
This is also a requirement for anyone new to the school system or university system, regardless of age.
Those in need of the vaccine can visit a pharmacy, such as Smith’s Food & Drug, their primary care physician, or the Southern Nevada Health District. To my knowledge, most insurance plans cover the vaccine or require a minimum co-pay. For those with no coverage, the vaccine can run up to $160. Once administered, the patient will receive documentation of proof of vaccination, and the shot will be recorded in the state of Nevada’s vaccine registry (WebIZ) system.
So, why is a state mandate requiring meningitis vaccinations necessary? When posed with that question, I always answer “why not?” With such a high mortality rate, the dangers of this disease, specifically bacterial meningitis, is great. We can discourage the spread of this disease, so in the interest of public safety, why not do everything we can with the tools we have to make sure our children are protected?