Meningococcal Meningitis Disease
Information Form
Each postsecondary educational institution is required by Legislative Bill 513 to provide each student who will reside in
on-campus housing and the student’s parent or guardian with (a) detailed information on the risks associated with the
potentially fatal meningococcal disease; (b) discuss the availability and the effectiveness of a vaccine against the
disease; (c) recommend that each student receive the meningococcal vaccination; and (d) offer information on the
availability of an indigent patient fund to assist qualified persons with the cost of the vaccine. Each postsecondary
educational institution shall request a confirmation signed by the student, parent or guardian that the information
provided has been received and reviewed.
Central Community College is dedicated to the welfare of their students. We want our students and their parents to know
that meningococcal meningitis is caused by bacteria which invade the lining surround the brain, (the meninges). It is called
meningococcal septicemia or meningococcemia when it enters the blood stream, destroying organs and tissue in a matter
of hours. The following statistics were shared on the National Meningitis Association webpage (www.nmaus.org
):
• Nearly one-third of the 2,000 to 3,000 annual cases in the US result in fatalities or severe disabilities such as limb
amputations and organ damage.
• Students have shown a recent increase in the number of adolescent cases and deaths in the 1990s.
• Students in dorm environments are at increased risk.
• There is a safe, approved vaccine, which can help prevent the majority of adolescent cases. The Menomune
Vaccine lasts for 3 to 5 years and is 85 to 95% effective against serogroups A,C,Y, and W-135.
There are two major divisions of meningitis – viral (caused by virus) and bacterial (caused by one of the several types and
strains of bacteria residing in the throat or nasal passages). The bacterial form of meningitis is extremely dangerous, fast-
moving, and has the most potential for being fatal. For many survivors the long-term effects also can be debilitating,
recurrent, and include multiple amputations. Many (but not all) types of bacterial meningitis can be prevented by
vaccination. Viral meningitis has similar symptoms to bacterial meningitis, but is neither as deadly nor as debilitating for
the most part. There is no vaccine protection against viral meningitis.
Meningitis is spread through close contact where saliva is transmitted such as coughing, sneezing, kissing or sharing drinks
or cigarettes. The bacteria cannot live outside the body for very long, so the disease is not as easily transmitted as a cold
virus. Ways to help prevent spreading the disease include following good hygiene practices such as washing hands, not
sharing water bottles or other drinks, avoiding cigarettes, and generally not transmitting or sharing items that have been
in one’s mouth.
Central Community College encourages all students planning to live in the Residence Halls to get the meningitis
vaccination. Contact your local hospitals and doctors’ offices and inquire if they have the vaccine available or find locations
offering the vaccination by going on-line to www.nmaus.org
, clicking on the button “Finding the Vaccine”. You may also
wish to contact your local hospitals, doctor’s offices, or Health and Human Service Agencies about the availability of
payment assistance or indigent patient funds to assist qualified persons with the cost of the vaccine.
By signing below, you acknowledge receipt of this information.
Student Signature Date
