Carleton College will offer a Meningitis Immunization Clinic on Tuesday, April 10, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Severance Great Hall. All Carleton students have been invited to receive the vaccination, which costs $85. Carleton has contracted VACCESSHealth, a vaccination access organization specializing in programs for colleges and universities, to provide the vaccinations and handle all details of the program.
Carleton is providing the vaccination on the recommendation of the American College Health Association (ACHA), said Claudia Lunder, a registered nurse at Carleton’s Wellness Center. According to the ACHA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reported cases of the disease have increased in recent years. A rising number of those cases have occurred at schools, universities, and in other organization-based settings, and recent studies suggest college students are particularly susceptible because they live and work in close proximity to each other in dormitories and classrooms.
The vaccine will protect students against four of the five strains of meningococcal meningitis, a bacterial infection causing inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord which can be fatal. Its symptoms mimic the flu and the infection can spread through direct contact such as sharing a glass, or through the air via sneezing or coughing.
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| What: Meningitis Immunization Program |
| Who: Carleton College Students |
| When: Tuesday, April 10, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., no appointment necessary |
| Where: Severance Great Hall |
| Cost: $85 can be billed to the student's home address or to a major credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express) |
| Contact: VACCESSHealth, 1-877-482-2237 with questions |