Meningitis

justamom · #1 11-09-2001, 11:10 AM

Got a flyer from LSU urging students to get the vaccine.
Has anyone had the shot?
Is there a good site on the potential side effects?

I'd like my daughter to get vaccinated, but my husband is against it because of potential risks. A girl at LSU died a year or two ago and they think there is a recent death at a La. college (missed which one on the news) linked to the infection. What are others doing?

Wine&Blue · #2 11-09-2001, 11:41 AM

My fiance had to get the shot when he was in school, because someone died from it on his campus. I would definitely recommend your daughter get it. It's much better to deal with the side effects of the vaccine than to actually get meningitis.

GmuTeke · #3 11-09-2001, 11:56 AM

There was a meningitis scare at GMU a few years back, fortunately it was a graduate student who had limited exposure to campus, and was only in small 700 level classes. if your daughter lives on campus in the dorms, i would highly reccomend one.

TigerGirl52 · #4 11-09-2001, 12:03 PM

Hey justamom!!! My mom also encouraged me to get that shot when she got the same flyer. She thought I would be at a greater risk of getting meningitis since I've already had it. I had spinal meningitis when I was two and it weakened my immune system. I talked to my doctor and he said that I wasn't in any more danger than the next person.

Anyways...I would definitely encourage your daughter to go ahead and get the vaccine. Better to be safe than sorry right??? If she's living in the dorm she should definitely get it. I'll keep you posted if I hear of any cases of meningitis here at LSU.

Allison

xok85xo · #5 11-09-2001, 01:31 PM

I've gotten the vaccination..never experienced any side effects..

carnation · #6 11-09-2001, 01:48 PM

We had our oldest get the shot as she entered college and will do the same for the rest of ours. Several Georgia campuses have had students who died from it over the past few years and we watched several blurbs about the pros and cons of the vaccine. The pros definitely outweigh the cons!

juniorgrrl · #7 11-09-2001, 02:24 PM

Personally, I think the meningitis shot is a moneymaking gesture on the part of the University.

No one has died at LSU from meningitis in the past few years. A girl at Tulane did last year, but they linked it to something else somehow. Forget what, exactly.

The tuition here is cheap, so they like to nickle and dime you to death...

bucutie02 · #8 11-09-2001, 03:13 PM

a couple of months ago there were a few people in the houston area that became very ill from the disease and a few died, so i got the vaccine and didnt experience any side effects. Your daughter should get it just to be on the safe side, especially since she is in a college setting. I definitely wanted to get it because I encounter people from all over houston and different suburbs where the disease affected people.

justamom · #9 11-09-2001, 04:45 PM

Thanks everyone! I feel the same way. My Hubby is going to sit his rear end down and read every single reply! On the news segment, they did say the price kept a lot of students-the very ones who need it the most- from getting vaccinated. The way I look at it, I can drop $85.00 on a night out. I'll deposit that amount and tell her I'll be looking for the canceled check...she is soooo tight with her money!

shadokat · #10 11-09-2001, 05:29 PM

One of my sisters spent about 10 days in the hospital, 3 in critical condition with menengitis. It's no joke, that's for sure! But the only people who had to get the vaccine were like her boyfriend, her roommate, and people who had intimate contact with her. I mean, her roommate and she drank out of the same cup or something. The rest of us just went and sat vigil with her parents and brought them food. Thankfully, she's fine today

justamom · #11 11-09-2001, 07:06 PM

I'm am so convinced...I really am getting paranoid...maybe i need to relax. It's SO DARN HARD! You protect your kids for YEARS and suddenly, they are gone and out from under your wings. Oh heven help us from mothers like me!

KillarneyRose · #12 11-09-2001, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by justamom
I'm am so convinced...I really am getting paranoid...maybe i need to relax. It's SO DARN HARD! You protect your kids for YEARS and suddenly, they are gone and out from under your wings. Oh heven help us from mothers like me!

I know exactly what you mean. I swear I pray every night that God doesn't decide I need payback for what I put MY mom through!

AlphaChiGirl · #13 11-09-2001, 07:49 PM

Meningitis vaccine is a very good thing to have...the dorm situation definitely makes it possible, and it's just best to err on the side of caution. I was offered it when I went to college, I did it, and it turns out that I'd need it now, when I'm planning to study abroad.

Better safe than sorry. Plus, it's not cost-prohibitive for a lot of people to get them. I know where I live, the county health department does them for little or nothing.

crazyleggedsigma · #14 11-12-2001, 01:43 PM

Like justamom (I don't like that name, because MOM is the hardest profession there is, and with no formal degree program, its amazing how many people are willing to accept the position

), mine insisted that I have myself vaccinated.

I'd have to say that the only side effect was a sore arm. Not as bad as a tetanus shot (tomboy that I was, I had my fair share), but you don't exactly feel like going to lift weights the next afternoon. Makes you feel better upstairs, though-one less thing to worry about. (and gets Mom off your case!)

justamom · #15 11-12-2001, 03:07 PM

I'm going to remind her today. They have them scheduled for the 14th. THANKS ALL!