Why is the meningitis vaccine optional, but the chicken pox vaccine is not?
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Anonymous
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My DD is headed to college in the fall. The college requires her to have two doses of the chicken pox vaccine (or proof documenting the disease). The meningococcal vaccine is highly recommend, but students can sign a waver to defer the vaccine. Why do you think the meningococcal vaccine is "optional"? I am just wondering if there is some controversy surrounding the vaccine.
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Anonymous
| Our 3 colleges required it. |
Anonymous
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Chicken pox is infectious as hell and can be very dangerous to older kids/young adults/pregnant females (i.e., pneumonia in 1-2% cases, sets one up for shingles later in life, can cause meningitis and death [uncommon, but]).
Bacterial meningitis -- less infections, but if in a dense residential dorm/barracks situation, generally a good idea to make sure everyone gets immunized. Got myself reimmunized when I started grad school in my 30s: remembered that a couple of college kids died of bacterial meningitis about the same time. Cheap insurance. |