Immunizations
Here are our recommendations for immunizations for college students.
Meningococcal Meningitis (Menactra, Menomune)
What it is: An inflammation of the lining of the brain
and spinal cord caused by a bacteria.
Symptoms: Fever, severe headache, stiff neck,
and mental changes. Also possibly a flat red rash, particularly
on the arms and legs.
Prevalence: Relatively rare (there are 1.5
cases per 100,000 in the U.S. for all ages). But recent evidence
indicates that first-year students living in residence halls
are at higher risk.
Seriousness: Meningococcal disease can lead
to death within 24 hours.
Shot effectiveness: Moderate. The vaccine
is about 85% effective against the strains of bacteria it addresses.
But it doesn’t protect against meningococcal type B,
which accounts for about 30% of the cases in college students.
Recommendations: Public Health experts recommend
that students consider having this vaccine, especially first-year
undergraduates who live in group residences and dormitories.
Others at higher risk: people traveling to high-incidence areas
and those with weakened immune systems.
Hepatitis B
What it is: Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver
that can lead to liver failure, liver cancer, or death. The
vaccine series of three shots has been given to infants in the US since
1991.
Symptoms: There may be none, especially in infants
or young children, but it can also bring on fever, abdominal discomfort,
nausea, vomiting, diminished appetite, or jaundice.
Prevalence: It strikes about 5% of adults
in the U.S.; more in other areas. The infection
is widespread in southeast Asia; infants may be infected at
birth from infected mothers.
Seriousness: Potentially very serious.
Shot effectiveness: Extremely effective.
Recommendations: We strongly recommend getting
this shot, especially for those at high risk: people who are
sexually active, have multiple sex partners, men who have sex
with men, those who have had or are concerned about sexually
transmitted infections (including HIV), those who are health
care workers, use injectable drugs, or live in a household
with a hepatitis B carrier.
Chicken Pox
Recommended for adults who have not had chickenpox. You need two shots.
Hepatitis A
Recommended for travelers, food handlers, men who have sex with men, and people with certain chronic diseases.
Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap)
Recommended every ten years, or sooner for a substantial wound. Pertussis has been added to the Td vaccine in 2006 and should be given for booster doses from now on.
Measles, Mumps, & Rubella
Immunization is so important that it is required for new students to prevent an outbreak on campus.
Flu
Recommended for the following groups of people who are at risk for serious complications from the flu:
- Persons aged >50 years
- Persons with chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma
- Persons who need regular medical care or who have metabolic diseases (like diabetes), chronic kidney disease, or weakened immune system
- Women who will be more than 3 months pregnant during the flu season
The flu vaccine is also recommended for students or others in institutional
settings (those who reside in dormitories).
Anyone who wants to lower their chances of getting the flu can get a flu
shot.
HPV
The vaccine is recommended for 13-26 year-old women who have not yet received or completed the vaccine series. Prevents most genital warts and most HPV infections that cause cervical cancer. Series of 3 shots, at 0, 2, and 6 months.