A one-day only campuswide immunization clinic for meningitis and flu shots is being offered by the Wardenburg Health Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder on Thursday, Nov. 6, and should be a "must do" activity for students who live in the residence halls, said Robert Cranny, director of Wardenburg.
Cranny's recommendation is in line with health officials nationally who support the shots for college-age adults, especially those living in group settings such as campus residence halls.
"The American College Health Association recommends that all people living in residence halls should consider getting the vaccine," Cranny said. That is because people living in close quarters appear to be more likely to contract meningococcal meningitis, often called bacterial meningitis, which can be fatal. All college students who wish to reduce their risk should receive the meningitis vaccination, Cranny said.
CU-Boulder students can be immunized at the Nov. 6 clinic between the hours of 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the Student Recreation Center. Cost of the meningitis vaccine is $90, $9 less than the normal Wardenburg charge, and the flu vaccine is $20. The American College Health Association also recommends college students consider getting the flu vaccine "to avoid disruption of academic activities."
CU-Boulder students also can get both vaccinations at Wardenburg Health Center Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Dr. Thomas Kunstman, lead physician at Wardenburg, said studies have shown that when cultures are taken from nasal passages during outbreaks, "a high percentage of students tested are carrying the meningococcal bacteria. In most cases, however, students' immune systems are strong enough that their bodies are able to ward it off," said Kunstman.
"Lack of sleep, poor eating habits, high stress and excessive use of alcohol, cigarettes or drugs -- anything that compromises the body's immune system -- will make people more susceptible to illness," he said.
In addition to the vaccination, the best thing that students can do to avoid getting bacterial meningitis is to wash their hands regularly, get at least seven hours of sleep a night, practice good nutrition and drink lots of fluids, preferably water. They also should avoid sharing cigarettes, drinks and eating utensils. Following that advice will lower a person's risk for meningitis and for other illnesses.
Wardenburg Health Center is advertising the Nov. 6 clinic through 150 posters that have been distributed around campus and in upcoming student e-memos to all CU-Boulder students. Parents of all CU-Boulder freshmen also have received a letter asking them to "encourage your son or daughter to get immunized."
Since 1998 three CU-Boulder students have contracted meningitis and all have recovered. The most recent case was in February 2002. In a fourth case in 1997, a 19-year-old CU-Boulder student who lived in a campus residence hall died of the disease.
Nationally, an estimated 100 to 125 college students contract meningococcal disease annually and from five to 15 college-age students die each year from meningitis.
Meningococcal disease, an inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord and its accompanying bloodstream infections, is rare but potentially fatal. Symptoms of meningococcal disease include fever, severe sudden headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, rash and lethargy.
Over the past three years, about 4,000 CU-Boulder students have been vaccinated against bacterial meningitis either at Wardenburg or at special clinics held annually at the Student Recreation Center.
For more information on meningococcal disease check the CU Web site at or call the Wardenburg Health Information Line at (303) 492-8741 or the Telephone Advice Nurse at (303) 492-3435.
For more information on the Nov. 6 clinic sponsored by Wardenburg go to .